Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Former Homeland Secretary Michael Chertoff has been all over the airwaves since the attempted bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight on Christmas Day, advising the nation that it should invest in full-body scanners for airports. What Chertoff failed to mention in numerous television interviews is that his consulting business currently represents the company, Rapiscan Systems, that makes the scanners.
Chertoff first became familiar with Rapiscan’s technology while running the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under President George W. Bush. In 2005, Chertoff’s agency purchased 40 body scanners for installation at 19 U.S. airports. He then left the administration and formed his own security consulting business, the Chertoff Group.
Earlier this year, the DHS’ Transportation Security Administration (TSA) purchased 150 machines from Rapiscan for $25 million, and in the wake of the Christmas Day incident, TSA is expected to buy another 300 scanners.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Ex-Homeland Security Chief Head Said to Abuse Public Trust by Touting Body Scanners (by Kimberly Kindy, Washington Post)
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