Ex-employee accuses TSA chief of sexual harassment

A terminated Transportation Security Agency employee who was formerly detailed at the Saipan International Airport has filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, accusing Saipan’s TSA director of sexually harassing him.

Paul DiGangi, 53, complained against the TSA at the EEOC’s office in San Francisco, California. Besides disclosing the alleged sexual harassment he suffered from TSA’s Saipan director, John Peoples, DiGangi also accused the TSA management on Saipan of discriminating against Caucasians.

DiGangi’s lawyer, Mary Dryovage, asserted that her client’s termination by the TSA came shortly after he rejected the alleged sexual advances by Peoples.

Documents from DiGangi’s lawyer, Mary Dryovage, showed that the TSA terminated DiGangi’s employment through a letter dated April 17, 2003.

“On Dec. 30, 2002, you used your government travel card to purchase two personal airline tickets to Tinian Island. On Jan. 1, 2003, you again used your government travel card for personal purchases at the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and [Casino],” the termination letter reportedly stated.

“In addition to the unauthorized use of your government purchase card for personal purchases, you falsified your T & L [time and labor] report by claiming that you worked eight hours on Jan. 1, 2003,” it added.

Dryovage claimed that DiGangi was on temporary duty and that the latter was entitled to use the government credit card for transportation, lodging and meals. The lawyer said the credit card was paid in full every month.

“The agency presents no evidence to support their claim that Mr. DiGangi violated the government travel card rules or falsified his time and labor report when he purchased two airline tickets to Tinian Island, went there for the New Year’s holiday, and reported to work the following day on Jan. 2, [2003,]” Dryovage stated. “The evidence will show that there was no investigation into the facts surrounding these charges.”

DiGangi claimed to have worked as screening manager for the TSA, a matter that was reportedly refuted by Peoples. The lawyer said, however, that Peoples was indisputably DiGangi’s supervisor at the time the alleged sexual harassment occurred.

Dryovage, citing DiGangi’s deposition, said that Peoples ordered her client to bring paperwork and painkillers to the latter’s hotel room at 11pm on Dec. 4 or 5, 2002. The lawyer claimed that DiGangi was offended by People’s discussion of his sex life, while the latter allegedly held on to his private part while talking from his bed.

DiGangi also accused Peoples of grabbing his thigh while he was being driven to a cellular phone store on Feb. 11, 2003. Peoples allegedly told him about sucking a man’s private part.

“On March 20, 2003, after working all night, Mr. Peoples, who was a member of the Elan Club at the Hyatt, asked Mr. DiGangi to have a steam bath with him, three times,” the lawyer said. “Mr. Peoples became angry with Mr. DiGangi for rejecting his invitation for a steam bath.”

The following day, Peoples allegedly threatened DiGangi that he would be in trouble.

DiGangi also complained of discrimination within the TSA on Saipan, saying that a number of Caucasians have been terminated or forced to resign from the agency.

“Mr. DiGangi was terminated by Mr. Peoples in Saipan, because of the hostility of the Chamorros, who wanted local, non-white people to be hired into the screening manager and supervisory positions,” the lawyer said.

Acting TSA Saipan director Viola Sablan refused to comment on DiGangi’s EEOC complaint, referring an interview to Peoples, who will reportedly be back on Saipan this week.