WASHINGTON, April 3 (UPI) -- The Transportation Security Administration disputes U.S. Rep. Peter King's charge that he was kept in the dark about new aviation screening protocols.
The new rules were announced Friday morning, The Hill reports.
King, R-N.Y., the ranking Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, accused deputy national security adviser John Brennan of an "iron curtain of secrecy" that prevents Congress from exercising its oversight function and called for his dismissal. He said he supports the new measures, calling them "a significant step forward."
"The congressman's staff was notified prior to press reports that a change to aviation security was going to be announced, and he was offered a classified briefing at a time of his convenience to learn more about the enhanced measures," a TSA official said in a statement.
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the chairman of the committee, released a statement agreeing, at least part-way, with King.
"While this new policy is a step in the right direction, I hope to work with the White House on a more coordinated roll-out in the future," Thompson said.
Both Democrats and Republicans on the committee were briefed Friday afternoon after the public announcement and after King's complaints.
