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Today I reported on the documents showing the TSA security workers side the story about the incident involving Rep. Jason Chaffetz at the Salt Lake Int'l Airport. I now have a different personal opinion that when I reported it originally.
If you're unfamiliar with the story, Chaffetz said he was the victim of some good ol' fashioned bullying courtesy of airport security workers. (See "Documents released on Rep. Chaffetz airport security inicident")
I remember when I first heard this story, I believed Chaffetz 100%, but after reading the eight different handwritten accounts from security workers, my opinion has changed.
Chaffetz said when he told them he was a member of Congress, they replied "We know you are." It makes it sound like they singled him out as he claimed. They may have, I wasn't there, but when you put the phrase in context, it doesn't sound as bad.
If the two security workers accounts are true, Chaffetz said "Do you know who I am?" The worker said "No." Chaffetz then told them he was a Congressman. Then he asked them to give their supervisor his card, they replied... "They know who you are." Whether the security worker said "we" or "they" does make a difference, but when you put the whole conversation together it has less of a bite than when Chaffetz said it first.
It's still completely possible Chaffetz was bullied, but reading accounts both sides i now believe both sides acted inappropriately. Again, if the security accounts are true, Chaffetz swore at the workers, and they laughed at him, and there are other examples as well, but overall it's a good reminder to me that there are always two sides to every story. That's why it's so important as a journalist not to jump on the bandwagon when you're reporting a story. You have to talk to both sides, and find trusted sources. Unless you were there, and you saw it yourself, you have to do your best to gather as many facts as possible. Only then will you find out what truly happened.
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