Schumer, Thompson Demand More Airport Security
In the wake of Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson uncovering a disturbing gun running scheme , U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer this morning will call on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to immediately implement a national requirement that all airports physically screen airline and airport employees each day before they enter secured areas of airports.
Currently, pilots and flight crew pass through metal detectors before work, but most employees that repair and clean planes, load luggage, and work in the terminal post-security checkpoints are exempt from this physical screening.
Schumer and Thompson will say this gaping and dangerous loophole in airport security plans allowed an expansive gun running scheme to occur, during which a former Delta Airlines employee carried backpacks and carry-on baggage full of guns and ammunition on nearly twenty commercial flights in 2014 from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to New York.
Four men have been charged by Thompson for allegedly conspiring to sell 153 firearms, destined for the streets of Brooklyn.
Schumer is expected to say that, like airplane passengers, flight crews and millions of private and government employees in courthouses and other offices, all commercial airport employees should be physically screened before entering secure areas as a requirement of each airport’s unique Airport Security Plan (ASP).
While Schumer made clear that most airline employees are honest, upstanding citizens, the potential for smuggling guns, drugs or even explosives onto airplanes undetected makes this a critical security change.
Gentile Explores Congressional Run
Bay Ridge City Councilman Vincent Gentile is exploring a run in the upcoming special election in the 11th Congressional District straddling Staten Island and parts of southern Brooklyn, according to several media outlets.
The seat opened up with the official resignation of former GOP Rep. Michael Grimm yesterday setting the stage for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to call a special election.
“Councilman Gentile has been truly humbled by the outpouring of support he has received over the past few days and people urging him to run to fill the vacancy in the 11th Congressional District,” Gentile’s Communications Director, Justin Brannan, told reporters.
Gentile joins fellow Democrats Assemblymen Bill Colton (also from Brooklyn) and Michael Cusick from Staten Island, and former Congressman and City Councilman Michael McMahon from Staten Island in seeking the nod from Part leaders.
On the GOP side, Staten Island DA Daniel Donovan is the frontrunner to get the nod to run, with Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis also pursuing the position.
Thompson Overturns Another Murder Conviction
Kings County District Attorney Ken Thompson yesterday announced his office will seek to overturn the murder conviction of Derrick Hamilton after he served 21 years for the crime.
Originally, Hamilton was convicted of killing Nathaniel Cash, 26, in 1991 in Bedford-Stuyvesant. His conviction was based on eyewitness testimony that Cash’s girlfriend, Jewel Smith, then 20-years-old, also an ex-con on parole, had given.
Almost immediately after his conviction, Hamilton began to challenge the jury’s verdict in a series of post-conviction motions and proceedings, none of which were successful. As part of these post-conviction proceedings, Smith recanted her trial testimony and reverted to her original claim to investigators that she had not seen the fatal shooting of Cash, nor had she observed Hamilton anyway near the scene. In 2012, Hamilton was released on parole after serving 21 years in prison.
“Wrongful convictions ultimately destroy the lives of the people who are wrongfully convicted, as well as their families, and also do damage to the integrity of the justice system. The people of Brooklyn elected me to ensure that justice is done and that is what my decision to vacate Derrick Hamilton’s conviction reflects. The Conviction Review Unit carefully analyzed the scene of the crime and scientifically and medically concluded that the witness’ account was unreliable,” said Thompson.
This is the 11th murder conviction that Thompson has overturned since taking office in January of last year.
