Authored by Joseph Lord through The Epoch Occasions (emphasis ours),

A Chicago father has realized that he has been positioned on a flight watchlist after opposing pornographic supplies in his children’ colleges.

Over the summer time of 2021, Terry Newsome—who described himself in feedback to the Epoch Occasions as a “lifelong Democrat” till not too long ago—was one in every of a number of mother and father within the 99th college district of Downer’s Grove, Chicago, who expressed opposition to books in his youngsters’s library that had sexually express and pornographic content material.

In December, Newsome found he had been positioned on a watchlist.

On Dec. 16, 2022, he and his household tried to board a airplane en path to Turning Level USA’s “America Fest” conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

Newsome, who travels an awesome deal for work, was shocked to be taught that he had been positioned on a watchlist and needed to get considerably extra screening earlier than being allowed to board, inflicting him to overlook his unique flight.

Initially, Newsome was informed that he had been positioned on the record by the FBI. On his return journey from Phoenix, he was knowledgeable that the classification originated from the Division of Justice (DOJ).

Regardless of having been a Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) pre-check-approved flier for over a decade, upon his household’s arrival at O’Hare Worldwide Airport, Newsome realized concerning the new designation.

Upon arriving on the airport, Newsome’s household discovered that they “couldn’t test in electronically like we usually did.” Initially, Newsome and his spouse simply chalked it as much as the truth that that they had minors touring with them that weren’t their youngsters.

It was solely later that Newsome realized he had been given the dreaded “quad-S” designation on his ticket, an acronym standing for Secondary Safety Screening Choice (SSSS).

In comparison with the traditional safety pointers for boarding, these with boarding passes marked SSSS should get much more screening.

SSSS boarding go holders are historically faraway from the road and introduced elsewhere for extra screening. This screening is nothing if not thorough—passengers are requested to take away all objects from their baggage, that are then examined individually whereas the bag is completely searched.

Along with a lot stricter screening of luggage, SSSS fliers are sometimes on the receiving finish of a full-body pat down. In addition they have their arms (and generally, based on some experiences) their toes swabbed to test for explosives.

Simply how invasive this search could be relies on circumstances, however fliers with the SSSS designation may anticipate to be prodded on questions like in the event that they packed their very own bag, the place they’re headed, why they’re going there, and so forth.

When he received to the airport, Newsome had no concept that he had been flagged with the SSSS designation.

He first realized that one thing was amiss on the ticket desk, the place he was informed by the clerk that she couldn’t print his boarding go. The difficulty was taking so lengthy that Newsome informed his household, who had already acquired their boarding passes, to go forward with out him.

They did, however had been pulled out of the road for extra screening. Newsome hurried over to the TSA desk when he noticed this to be taught what was happening.

It was then that Newsome was informed he had been flagged as a possible safety menace. Nonetheless, each he and the TSA workers, Newsome reported, assumed that the designation was an error and that the system had confused Newsome with another person who shared his identify.

After the extra screening, Newsome lastly received to the gate, the place he was denied entry to his flight as a result of the additional screening had precipitated them to be late. Newsome’s household additionally didn’t get on the flight as a result of additional screening.

At that time, Newsome was lastly informed what was happening when an airport worker informed them, “Someone put you on a listing with some actual dangerous individuals.”

After lacking their first flight, Newsome was capable of finding one other flight for himself and his household. However earlier than he might board, the airline needed to get approval from the FBI for him to fly.

The approval got here by on the final second, and Newsome’s household was lastly capable of begin their journey to Phoenix. Newsome was the final particular person to board his airplane.

The identical scene performed out on the return journey, when Newsome realized he had been positioned on the record by the DOJ.

FBI Dismisses FOIA Request

Following these experiences, Newsome despatched a Freedom of Info (FOIA) request to the FBI, in search of extra details about his newly found standing as an alleged terror danger.

The FBI refused to debate particulars with Newsome.

Within the letter he acquired replying to his request, the FBI wrote partly: “The U.S. Authorities can neither affirm nor deny whether or not a specific particular person is on any terrorist watch record. Sustaining the confidentiality of presidency watch lists is important to attain the targets of the U.S. Authorities, in addition to to guard the privateness of people who could also be on a watch record for a restricted time and later eliminated. If the U.S. Authorities revealed who was listed on any authorities watch record, terrorists would have the ability to take actions to keep away from detection by authorities authorities. Thus, the FBI neither confirms nor denies the existence of your topic’s identify on any watch lists pursuant to FOIA exemption.”

As a result of the federal authorities refuses to a lot as acknowledge that Newsome has been positioned on a listing, it’s unclear why Newsome’s identify was flagged for enhanced screening.

Newsome informed the Epoch Occasions that he thinks the addition of his identify to the record is in response to his previous political actions.

Of their response to an Epoch Occasions inquiry about Newsome, the FBI’s press workplace insisted that the company doesn’t open investigations solely on the grounds of protected First Modification exercise.

“The FBI can by no means open an investigation primarily based solely on protected First Modification exercise,” the company wrote. “We can not and don’t examine ideology. We give attention to people who commit or intend to commit violence and legal exercise that constitutes a federal crime or poses a menace to nationwide safety.”

The spokesperson expressly refused to reply questions regarding the method of inserting somebody on a watchlist, together with questions on oversight of the FBI’s skill to position Individuals on flight watchlists.

Moreover, Newsome additionally reached out to the TSA.

In his question, Newsome requested data and tried to be positioned again on the TSA pre-check record.

In its reply, the TSA stated he was now not eligible for its pre-check record, however prompt that Newsome would now not be topic to enhanced screening. Newsome stays unsure about his flight standing.

“Because of recurrent checks and primarily based on a complete background test, TSA was unable to find out that you just pose a sufficiently low danger to transportation and nationwide safety to proceed to be eligible for expedited airport safety screening by the TSA Pre-[Check] Software Program,” the reply stated. “In consequence, TSA has decided that you’re now not eligible to take part within the TSA Pre-[Check] Software Program.

“This eligibility willpower for the TSA Pre-[Check] Software Program is inside the sole discretion of TSA,” the letter added. “Though you’ve gotten been discovered ineligible to proceed your participation within the TSA Pre-[Check] Software Program, you’ll proceed to be screened at airport safety checkpoints in accordance to TSA normal screening protocols.”

Opposition to Porn in College Library

Newsome had by no means been concerned at school board conferences or politics till mid-2021, when he attended a district college board assembly after his then-eighth-grade son got here residence reporting that his trainer had informed him that “there isn’t any American dream.”

Newsome, a descendant of European immigrants who had lived the American dream, was shocked to listen to that. He referred to as his youngsters’s principal to debate the difficulty, and suspected that these points would solely worsen when his children, fraternal twins, received to highschool.

In July 2021, Newsome attended his first college board assembly at Downers Grove’s Neighborhood Excessive College (District 99).

Newsome instantly started a campaign on a number of hot-button subjects, starting from masks mandates to important race concept, turning into the unofficial spokesman for a number of involved moms who had been extra hesitant to talk out.

“The mothers are so pleased to have an aggressive, type-A-personality father to affix them. That they had principally fought this battle alone, towards the large system of public colleges,” Newsome informed The Epoch Occasions.

Newsome’s most controversial activism got here along with his opposition to the e-book “Gender Queer” by Mia Kobabe, a e-book containing sexually express photographs that teaches youngsters about oral intercourse and controversial notions of gender identification.

After Newsome started talking out towards the e-book and the left-wing ideology that had inundated his youngsters’s colleges, he started dealing with assaults from all corners, starting from threats by Antifa to opposition by Rep. Sean Casten (D-In poor health.).

Two days after the publication of an Epoch Occasions article about his activism, Newsome discovered threatening messages towards him on a domestically run Twitter account referred to as Antifascist Rumor Mill.

“Motion objects introduced quickly in regard to Terry Newsome—time to Drop Pops and his hateful agenda,” the tweet learn, referencing Newsome’s nickname “Pops.”

“Terry making an attempt to make a reputation for himself, have a look at his silly face within the Epoch Occasions, the acute #disinformation rag that echoed all of the lies, the Large Lie, the ‘Plandemic’ lie, and so forth.,” one other tweet from the account stated.

Newsome informed The Epoch Occasions that lots of those that have spoken towards him and threatened him, together with members of the college board, are in shut league with Rep. Casten.

“The college board and the superintendent are all managed by radical, radical leftists … which might be very vocal within the Downers Grove Neighborhood and all supportive of Sean Casten,” Newsome stated. “So anyone that speaks out with a distinct opinion is brutally attacked on social media and referred to as racist, homophobic, and so forth, irrespective of the reality.”

“To make some extent, I’ve stated it from the very starting, by now: me and the opposite mother and father will not be anti-gay or homophobic—we’re anti-porn,” Newsome stated.

January 6 Rally

A few of Newsome’s critics have previously identified that Newsome was current on the Jan. 6, 2021, “Cease the Steal” rally.

Newsome candidly admits that he attended the rally, however stated that he had no dangerous intentions and broke no legal guidelines that day.

“I went to January 6, with my good friend, a retired police officer,” Newsome stated.

In response to Newsome, the FBI beforehand investigated his good friend who attended the occasion, retired officer Rob Waller, and had cleared him of any wrongdoing.

Except for an previous Civil Warfare-era sword, Newsome doesn’t possess any weapons and was unarmed on the occasion.

Moreover, Newsome was present process immunotherapy for most cancers on the time, leaving him in a weakened state.

Newsome stated his solely motive for attending the rally was to listen to President Donald Trump converse and to make sure individuals had been secure.

“We went down there for 2 issues, one to see our president converse. Two, as a result of we’re each nonetheless huge guys regardless that we’re older,” Newsome stated. “We noticed in November, December, households, mother and father overly attacked by Antifa [and] BLM in entrance of their resorts.”

Newsome stated he had left by the point order broke down on the rally, which he vindicated by offering time-stamped photographs. Newsome’s photographs and time stamps from that day present that he didn’t trespass on Capitol grounds and was gone earlier than the Capitol breach started.

Considerations of ‘Weaponization’ Of DOJ

Newsome’s story comes amid issues over the weaponization of the DOJ.

In November, Home Republicans unveiled a 1,050-page report detailing whistleblower findings.

Since then, the celebration has licensed the creation of the Home Choose Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Authorities, which held its inaugural listening to on Feb. 9.

In his opening remarks, Weaponization Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) learn out a litany of findings from whistleblower testimony.

As an example, on Nov. 18, 2021, Republicans on the Home Judiciary Committee had been informed that the FBI had created a “menace tag” for fogeys voicing their issues in school board conferences. In Might 2022, one other whistleblower revealed that dozens of fogeys designated with a “menace tag” had been being investigated by the company.

The identical whistleblower stated that the management of the FBI is “rotted at its core.” Following this, that whistleblower had his safety clearance revoked and was suspended from the FBI.  

In April 2022, one other whistleblower informed Republicans that FBI brokers “had been being run out of the bureau” for attending conservative political occasions whereas off responsibility.

Jordan additionally cited whistleblower testimony beforehand included within the whistleblower report that claimed that the FBI had manufactured home violent extremism occasions (DVEs) to hit “self-created efficiency metrics.” Extra testimony in September 2022 revealed that Jan. 6 case recordsdata had been altered to make it seem that DVEs had been on the rise, as Democrats and President Joe Biden have lengthy claimed. The agent was later suspended.

In September 2022, yet one more whistleblower revealed to Republicans that the FBI views the Betsy Ross flag, the unique design of the American flag with 13 stars, “as a terrorist image.”

Extra testimony discovered that the FBI accepts private information on customers from Fb “with out the consumer’s consent.”

Cara Ding contributed to this report.