Witnesses: Secret Service agent didn't act angry

From Jeanne Meserve
CNN Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two people who claim to have witnessed events surrounding the ejection of an Arab-American Secret Service agent from a jetliner told CNN they never saw the agent act in an angry manner or become confrontational during the incident.

Walied Shater, a member of President Bush's protective detail, was removed from the Texas-bound American Airlines flight after the pilot questioned his law enforcement credentials raised concerns about the paperwork needed for Shater to bring a weapon onto the Christmas Day flight.

Shater's lawyers traded accusations over the incident with airline officials Thursday. American defended its pilot, saying the seven-year Secret Service veteran was confrontational, argumentative and hostile when questioned about his credentials; His attorneys denied the accusation and said he was singled out because of his ethnic background.

VIDEO The seatmate of a Secret Service agent bumped from a commerial flight backs a claim of racial profiling. CNN's Jeanne Meserve reports (January 4) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) The pilot who barred an Arab-American Secret Service agent from a flight filed a complaint with the Secret Service, accusing the agent of improper conduct. CNN's Jeanne Meserve reports (January 4) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   MORE STORIES Pilot, Secret Service agent trade charges    RESOURCES • Text of pilot's statement  • Text of American Airlines manager's incident report

Mark Pueschel told CNN he was sitting in the same row as Shater. He said a flight attendant twice patted down a leather jacket the agent had left behind.

Pueschel said the flight attendant also examined a book about the Arab world that Shater had left in the sleeve of the seat in front of him, and when the attendant put it back, she made a hand gesture "like she was grossed out." This led him to believe that the flight attendant found the book offensive, he said.

Pueschel said the flight attendant asked him if he found the agent suspicious. He said he did not. At another point, Pueschel said, the flight attendant asked him "to cover me, keep an eye out for me." And after the flight left the Baltimore Washington International Airport, Pueschel said the attendant told him Shater had made the flight crew "uncomfortable."

Pueschel described Shater as "well dressed" and "confident," and said he did not appear "uncomfortable or nervous or fidgeting." He also said he saw no angry behavior on the agent's part.

Pueschel said he contacted the Council on American Islamic Relations after reading about the incident. Both his parents are native German speakers, and Pueschel said the thought of their being kicked off a plane because of the way they talked prompted him to get involved.

CNN also spoke with Molly Reeve, who believes she saw and spoke to Shater several times in the terminal Christmas night. She said she saw the agent after the events on the airplane, and that even at that point, he appeared calm.

Reeve also said she caught a glimpse at the disputed paperwork Shater filled out to bring his gun on the flight. She described Shater as "very nice and professional" and said she never "witnessed any yelling or hostile behavior."

Neither Reeve nor Pueschel saw the agent interact with the pilot who removed him from the flight.