DHS Accuses Sen Shaheen of Corruption Over Husband’s TSA Watchlist Removal

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has accused Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen of using her influence to have her husband, William Shaheen, removed from the TSA's Quiet Skies watchlist after he was flagged for traveling with a known or suspected terrorist multiple times in 2023. DHS alleges that Shaheen lobbied then-TSA Administrator David Pekoske to secure an exemption for her husband from enhanced screenings and surveillance, a request that was granted but has since been revoked. William Shaheen, a Lebanese American attorney, has denied any wrongdoing and stated he was unaware of traveling with anyone on such a watchlist, calling the accusations delusional and political. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem criticized the watchlist program as having been politicized by the Biden administration, weaponizing it against political opponents while granting exemptions to allies and elites, including athletes and journalists. The Quiet Skies program, intended to monitor potential threats on domestic flights, has drawn criticism for targeting individuals without criminal records, raising civil liberties concerns. Senator Shaheen, who announced she will not seek reelection in 2026, had a meeting with TSA officials following her husband's enhanced screenings, after which he was placed on a secure flight exclusion list for 18 months before removal.