Hart Passenger Bumping Investigated
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NEWARK, N.J. — Federal authorities are investigating whether a man traveling with Gary Hart falsely identified himself as a Secret Service agent Wednesday to bump passengers from a commuter flight the candidate was taking to New Hampshire.
Fred Martin, vice president of marketing for Precision Eastern Express Airlines of Manchester, N.H., said a company agent at Newark International Airport reported being approached by Hart and three others, one of whom said: “I’m with the Secret Service, and no one else can board this flight except Mr. Hart and his party.”
The man showed identification that included a badge and the airline agent did as instructed, bumping seven people who had reservations on the 15-seat plane, Martin said.
The passengers “were extremely upset,” but were put on another flight about 30 minutes later, he said.
Hart has no Secret Service agents assigned to travel with him, aides to the former Colorado senator said.
Campaign Aide Explains
Ginny Terzano, a press aide for the Hart campaign in Denver, said she could not confirm any details of the incident.
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