High profile attorney films 'invasive' airport security pat-down that makes her cry

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A high profile American attorney filmed the moment she broke down in tears during what she calls an "invasive" vaginal pat-down by an airport security officer.

Angela Rye was was randomly selected for additional screening by Transport Security Administration (TSA) officers at Detroit Metro Airport.

She was told she needed a “backhanded pat down around the upper thigh” by a female officer, the 37-year-old said on Twitter, where she wrote about the 15 December incident as it took place.

She then asked a police officer to film as a female TSA agent gave her thorough search.

As the officer wraps up the minute-long process, Ms Rye bursts into tears.

The film has amassed more than 11,000 views via her Twitter page

Writing about the incident for CNN, Ms Rye who works as a political commentator for the US broadcaster said: “The pat-down began and was uneventful until she went down my leg, up my dress, and her hand sideways hits me right in the crack of my labia.

“Startled, I jump and feel a lump in my throat trying to hold back tears. What happened to the back handed pat-down?

“She comes around to the front. I grow nervous and pull back a bit, afraid of the same thing happening – and her sideways hand hits in the middle of my genitals again. I can no longer hold back the tears.”

Ms Rye claims she was told she would be escorted from the airport and would miss her New York flight if she refused the search.

She says she has filed an official complaint and worries what effect similar checks would have on sexual assault victims. She also claimed the police officer would write up an incident report.

“Of course, we want America to be safe and protected," she wrote. "But we should not violate the emotional and physical safety of our nation’s citizens at the same time."

“Things don't change unless we ask questions and demand answers. We do not have to do something because it's always been done — that does not make it right.

“Perhaps it's time for the TSA to invest in new equipment. It is definitely time for them to keep their hands away from vaginas.

The TSA said: "“The Transportation Security Administration takes reports of alleged impropriety very seriously. TSA is currently looking into the specific details as to what occurred during the screening process to ensure our security protocols were followed.

"We regret any distress the security screening process may have caused the passenger. We have reached out to the passenger and will work with her directly to address her concerns.”