When high-powered finance guy Eric Slighton was arrested at SFO after allegedly impersonating a TSA agent and luring women into "private screenings," officials hoped the women he pulled aside would come forward so he could face charges stronger than the public drunkenness and "suspicious occurrence" ones they initially slapped him with. A month later, however, the women have not come forward, and Slighton, who has connections at the very top of Hong Kong's government, will not be charged.
As previously reported, the 53-year-old SF resident had a ticket to Hong Kong when he was allegedly seen "waving at and entering" a TSA private screening room at SFO with an Asian female traveler on July 15. Slighton allegedly performed an unauthorized pat down of the woman, then attracted the attention of a Covenant Security (the private company contracted by the TSA to secure SFO) staffer when he allegedly attempted to ensnare a second woman.
Reports at the time say that he had entered the security area in khaki pants, a blue polo shirt and blue rubber gloves that officers suspected he swiped "to look the part."
Slighton had passed through security some hours earlier, and had been seen drinking in one of the airport bars, according to reports. Slighton's father said at the time of his arrest that "There was a time in the past when had drinking problem, but that was 10 years ago...To the best of my knowledge, he doesn't drink at this time."
A few days after Slighton's arrest, the South China Morning Post reported that Slighton is married to Audrey Tung, the daughter of Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong's first leader after the transfer of Hong Kong's sovereignty from the UK to the China in 1997.
“In my view, this was an unfortunate event that should not have happened,” the politician said in a statement following his son-in-law's arrest. “I see Eric as a good husband to my daughter and a responsible father to my grandchildren."
San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe tells Bay City News that Slighton's connections were "irrelevant" to their decision not to prosecute him, but that "Without victims, we don't have any case here."
And, apparently, this isn't a case that can be saved with technology. According to Wagstaffe, there's no surveillance footage from inside the screening room, which is especially comforting when we're talking about matters of national security.
Equally comforting, perhaps? While it’s illegal to impersonate a police officer, Wagstaffe told BCN, it's perfectly legal to impersonate a TSA agent.
At the time of his arrest, Slighton was carrying business cards that listed him as a partner at Aktis Capital Singapore, where he was listed as a "Director." He has since, reports the South China Morning Post, taken a leave of absence.
Previously: Private-Equity Exec Busted At SFO After Allegedly Impersonating TSA Agent, Luring Women To Screening Room
