Author archives

“Polygraph Misuse Complicates Hearing”

Associated Press writer Catherine Wilson reports. Excerpt: MIAMI (AP) — A polygraph examiner has admitted he broke the rules of his profession during a February undercover investigation into the 1990 murder of a policeman. Broward County sheriff’s polygrapher Richard Hoffman testified he was ordered to perform the lie detector test as a ruse, didn’t ask …

“Records Show Judge’s Qualms Over F.B.I. Acts”

New York Times reporter Benjamin Weiser reports on developments in the case of Abdallah Higazy, a falsely accused exchange student from whom an as yet un-named FBI polygrapher extracted a false confession. Excerpt: Newly released court documents show that a federal judge in Manhattan briefly considered appointing a special prosecutor to investigate how the F.B.I. …

“Judge Releases Documents in [Abdallah Higazy] Case”

Associated Press correspondent Devlin Barrett reports. Excerpt: NEW YORK- A federal judge believes he was misled by the government before he ordered the detention of an Egyptian student suspected of involvement in the Sept. 11 attack, newly released documents show. U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff on Thursday unsealed more than 100 pages of court papers …

Bristol Co., MA: “Former Southeastern Regional School District Official Passes Lie Detector Test, Denies She Stole Money from District”

Brockton, Massachusetts Enterprise staff writer Maureen Boyle reports. Excerpt: For two hours, Barbara Ataman sat in her lawyer’s office last month and underwent a polygraph examination. “Did you steal money from the Southeastern Regional School District?” the former transportation supervisor for the school district was asked. “Did you plan with anyone to steal money from …

“Some Nuclear Scientists SAY: Senator Is Blamed for Forcing Test on Scientists But Refuses to Take it Himself”

Sean Reilly, of the Mobile Register Washington bureau reports. Excerpt: WASHINGTON — As the FBI hunts the source of a news leak involving the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, some members of Congress have agreed to undergo lie detector tests. U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama isn’t one of them. “The Senate, and I assume, the …

Hatfill Attorney Says Kristof Wrong on Polygraphs

In a 13 August 2002 op-ed piece titled “The Anthrax Files,” New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof reported that anthrax investigation “person of interest” Dr. Steven J. Hatfill had “failed” three polygraph “tests” since January and declined a fourth. In an article titled “New Anthrax Clue, Same Hatfill Focus,” Hartford Courant staff writers Jack …

“First Lawmaker Agrees to Lie Detector Test”

This short Associated Press report, found on FoxNews.com, is cited here in full: BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – A central New York congressman said he would be willing to take a lie detector test as part of the FBI’s probe into intelligence leaks. Republican Sherwood Boehlert — a member of the House Intelligence Committee — dismissed concerns …

Anthrax Investigation “Person of Interest” Dr. Steven J. Hatfill Allegedly “Failed” Three Polygraph “Tests” Since January

In a New York Times op-ed piece titled “The Anthrax Files,” columnist Nicholas D. Kristof writes that virologist Dr. Steven J. Hatfill “has…failed three successive polygraph examinations since January, and canceled plans for another polygraph exam two weeks ago.” Kristof does not state his source for this information. For discussion of the use of polygraphs …

Dr. Steven J. Hatfill Reportedly “Failed” CIA Polygraph

MSNBC.com reports in an article titled, “FBI tries to link Hatfill to mailbox.” Excerpt: FAILED CIA POLYGRAPH Hatfill worked until September 1999 for the U.S. Army Medical Institute of Infectious Disease at Fort Detrick, Md., which is the primary custodian of the virulent Ames strain of anthrax found in last fall’s deadly letters. Subsequently, he …