Wow! You may be right here, not a SovCit, just European and not used to how the US criminalises their citizens in every way possible. For a country of “free speech” and “freedom” there sure are a number of ways you let the government walk all over you.
I wonder when they draw the line, could you be persecuted for deleting an email while at home before you travel? on the plane? What about in the security line?
In this case it’s just as likely that he accidentally gave the duress code instead of his actual pin, given zero crime this should be a valid and successful defense, although murca gonna murca.