Has the TSA apologized for strip-searching two South Florida women?

TSA denies strip-searches took place

A titillating case involving the TSA, strip-searches and two South Florida grandmothers continues to grow even more bizarre.

In late 2011, Ruth Sherman, 89, and Lenore Zimmerman, 85, separately accused screeners at New York's Kennedy Airport of forcing them to undergo strip-searches before returning to Florida. The Homeland Security Department initially denied any wrongdoing and said all TSA practices were followed.

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To read the full TSA response following the strip-search investigation, click here.

But after a request for a more comprehensive investigation by New York State Senator Michael Gianaris, the TSA admits that some departmental procedures were not followed, although they continue to deny that any strip-searches took place with either Sherman or Zimmerman.

The department says that both women voluntarily began removing their clothes at the security checkpoints and were stopped by airport screeners. In a letter to State Senator Gianaris, the TSA says the women were led into private rooms and were patted down but not strip-searched, a statement that Sherman denies.

The Homeland Security Department does admit that Sherman's colostomy bag was inspected by airport screeners in the private room and that it is not standard operatating procedure to do so.

The New York Daily News reported today that the TSA has apologized to the women, but when reached by Local 10 this morning, Sherman says no apology has been received.