Pittsburgh Airport TSA Employees Under Investigation

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is investigating its employees at Pittsburgh International Airport over complaints ranging from intimidation to sexual harassment.

Transportation Security Administration officials are being investigated following an internal review of employee complaints, according to a Feb. 22 letter from TSA Administrator David Stone to U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa.

Craig Martelle, the airport's assistant federal security director, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he and two other administrators were the targets of the investigation.

Martelle called the allegations a ''smear campaign'' in retaliation for firing employees and making unpopular schedule changes. He denied intimidating employees or abusing overtime and said he faces no allegations of sexual harassment.

Current and former TSA employees told the newspaper that federal agents questioned them about allegations ranging from sexual harassment, intimidation of employees, fraud, abuse of money and wrongful terminations of employees.

TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis wouldn't comment about specifics of the investigation or the initial review.

The other two administrators being investigated are Director Robert Blose and Bill Rough, deputy assistant federal security director for screening, Martelle said.

Rough was placed on paid leave after investigators interviewed TSA employees and management in February, Martelle said. Rough did not have a telephone number listed under his name and could not immediately be reached for comment Friday. He declined comment to the Tribune-Review.

Blose did not immediately return a message left by The Associated Press on Friday afternoon.

Allegheny County Airport Authority Executive Director Kent George said he also was questioned by federal agents.