Employee Has Been Removed From Screening Duty, Termination Pending

It turns out that the note that was placed in a female attorney's suitcase referencing a very personal item packed in the luggage was written by a TSA employee ... who has been identified and removed from screening operations.

On its blog, TSA confirms that earlier this week, a passenger found a highly inappropriate note scrawled on a "Notice of Inspection" that TSA places in checked bags if they are required to be searched. She tweeted a photo of what she found and we soon learned of the incident.

"TSA quickly launched an investigation and identified the employee responsible. That individual was immediately removed from screening operations and appropriate disciplinary action has been initiated," writes TSA's 'Blogger Bob'. "The handwritten note was highly inappropriate and unprofessional, and TSA has zero tolerance for this type of behavior."

In an update posted to the blog Thursday, TSA said:

"After working with our Office of Chief Counsel and Privacy Office, we have been cleared to say the following: TSA has completed its investigation of this matter, and has initiated action to remove the individual from federal service. Like all federal employees, this Transportation Security Officer is entitled to due process and the protections embodied in the Privacy Act. Pending the completion of the removal action, the employee will not perform any screening duties."

Agency officials say they have also reached out to the passenger to personally apologize for this unfortunate incident.

FMI: www.tsa.gov