WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- The Transportation Security Administration is looking into a report that Louisiana Sen. David Vitter had an angry altercation with an airline worker at Washington Dulles International Airport last week . Louisiana Sen. David Vitter reportedly went into a `` tirade '' with a Washington Dulles International Airport worker . The agency is not doing a formal investigation , TSA spokesman Sterling Payne told CNN , but it is gathering information to determine if one is needed . `` We are looking into the reported incident , '' Payne said . An aide to Vitter said Friday morning the Republican senator had not been contacted by the TSA and maintains the media account of the incident is overblown . Roll Call had a report in its gossip column earlier this week , based on an unnamed eyewitness , that Vitter arrived at the airport 20 minutes before his United Airlines flight was scheduled to depart . The door to the boarding bridge was already closed , but Vitter opened it anyway , triggering an alarm . The paper said an airline worker warned him not to enter the walkway , which led to a `` tirade '' by Vitter who `` remained defiant . '' The source told Roll Call the senator left the area before airport police arrived . Vitter has refused to answer reporters ' questions about the incident , but in a statement Wednesday described his actions more innocently and the Roll Call report `` silly . '' `` After being delayed on the Senate floor ensuring a vote on my anti-pay raise amendment and in a rush to make my flight home for town hall meetings the next day , I accidentally went through the wrong door at the gate , '' he said . `` I did have a conversation with an airline employee , but it was certainly not like this silly gossip column made it out to be . '' Vitter has been the subject of unwelcome headlines before . In 2007 , he was linked to a Washington , D.C. , prostitution ring . He denied allegations he had relationships with prostitutes , but apologized for `` a very serious sin . '' Joel DiGrado , Vitter 's spokesman , said the congressman would not comment further on the issue . CNN 's Mike Ahlers contributed to this report .
TSA gathers information about alleged incident involving Louisiana Sen. David Vitter . Vitter reportedly had angry confrontation with airport worker . The Associated Press contributed to this report.