TSA agents subpoena, visit home of second writer

A representative from the Transportation Security Administration visited the home of a second blogger this week to serve a subpoeana seeking the source of a security directive that was posted on the blogger’s Web site, Wired reported.

A TSA agent visited the home of Steven Frischling Tuesday night — the same day established travel writer Christopher Elliott also received a subpoena — to demand he reveal who supplied him with new screening requirements established by TSA after a would-be bomber boarded a Northwest Airlines flight to Detroit on Christmas Day. Frischling, a freelance writer who authors a blog for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, had published the directive on Dec. 27.

Frischling said agents arrived at his house just moments after he received a phone call from Elliott warning him of a possible visit.

“They came to the door and immediately were asking, ‘Who gave you this document?, Why did you publish the document?’ and ‘I don’t think you know how much trouble you’re in.’ It was very much a hardball tactic,” Frischling told Wired.

Frischling’s laptop was seized and he decided to cooperate with the authorities — handing over the Gmail address from which the security directive was sent — after receiving advice from an attorney.