Joseph-Day says he was sexually assaulted by TSA
Sebastian Joseph-Day, a Chargers defensive lineman, said he was sexually assaulted by a TSA employee while going through a security checkpoint at John Wayne Airport in Orange County. JosephDay described the incident in a series of posts on his Twitter feed on Friday.
“I really just got sexually assaulted by TSA at @ JohnWayneAir,” wrote Joseph-Day, who was a member of the Rams' Super Bowl championship team in the 2021 season before signing with the Chargers in 2022. “After I asked the gentleman to please stop BC I'm uncomfortable and I feel that this part of the check is unnecessary (After he felt what was needed). Then they told me I was the problem after 3 TSA agents swarmed me.”
Joseph-Day, 28, described the experience at the security checkpoint as “extremely unnecessary” and “dehumanizing.” He also said he was made to “jump through hoops” when he filed a complaint with TSA, adding that he was sharing his experience so “this group of gentleman (sic) and staff aren't allowed to do this ever again to another human being.”
In a statement, the TSA said it “has looked into allegations made” by Joseph-Day and it is “actively working to collect information.” “The TSA is committed to ensuring that all travelers are treated with respect during the security screening process,” the TSA added in its statement.
A spokesman at TSA said when a traveler files a complaint, each case goes under a unique process depending on the situation, which could include reviewing camera footage and interviews with the officers involved. TSA said Joseph-Day was given contact information for feedback while at the checkpoint.
Joseph-Day spent four seasons with the Rams, who drafted him in the sixth round in 2018, before signing with the Chargers as a free agent last year. He earned a degree in journalism and media studies from Rutgers, where he earned all-Big Ten academic honors. He started all 16 games in which he was healthy enough to play this past season with the Chargers.