NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- U.S. Sen. Rand Paul says he was stopped briefly by security at the Nashville airport when a scanner found an "anomaly" on his knee.

The Republican who frequently uses the airport about an hour from his Bowling Green home told The Associated Press in a telephone interview, he asked for another scan but refused a pat down by airport security. He said he was "detained" at a small cubicle and couldn't make his flight to Washington for a Senate session.

Paul, the son of Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, said the situation reflects his long-standing concern that the TSA shouldn't be "spending so much time with people who wouldn't attack us."

TSA officials didn't immediately respond to AP's request for more information.