Bill Would Limit Secretary of Energy’s Discretion to Grant Polygraph Waivers

Steven Aftergood of the Federation of American Scientists’ Project on Government Secrecy reports in today’s edition of the electronic newsletter Secrecy News that House-Senate conferees have approved legislation that severely limits the Secretary of Energy’s authority to grant polygraph waivers. The following is an excerpt (emphasis added): DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL BOOSTS SECRECY The House-Senate conference … Read more

DoDPI Director Michael H. Capps Allegedly Misappropriated Government-Earned Frequent Flyer Miles

Michael H. Capps Edward T. Pound of USA Today writes that the Department of Defense Inspector General has concluded that Department of Defense Polygraph Institute director Michael H. Capps misappropriated $4,100 worth of government-earned frequent-flier miles and misled investigators when questioned about the matter. Mr. Pound’s article leaves unanswered the question, “Did the disgraced director … Read more

“Judge Seeks Support for Polygraph Tests”

Kimball Perry of the Cincinnati Post reports that Presiding Judge Robert S. Kraft of the General Division of the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas will ask judges to support expanded use of tax-payer funded polygraph “tests.” Judge Kraft has previously urged that polygraph “tests” be used in all felonies. Judge Kraft needs to know … Read more

“Bush Campaign Wants Lie Tests”

Vincent Morris and Deborah Owen of the New York Post report that “George W. Bush staffers offered to take lie-detector tests yesterday as they pressed the FBI to solve the mystery of whether a mole gave a debate prep video to rival Al Gore’s camp.” Mr. Bush’s staffers need to learn about the lie behind … Read more

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Officers to Undergo Lie-Detector “Tests”

Lincoln Wright of the Canberra Times reports that ASIO officers “will be the first to undergo a new trial of lie-detector tests after the Howard Government endorsed a report recommending tougher rules to fix leaks of national security secrets.” Australia should learn from America’s mistakes, not repeat them.

DoD Plans to Expand Reliance on Polygraphy

In his electronic newsletter, Secrecy News, Steven Aftergood of the Federation of American Scientists’ Project on Government Secrecy reports on Department of Defense plans to expand reliance on polygraphy. DoD’s FY 1999 polygraph report states: In an effort to eliminate or reduce the number of unauthorized disclosures of classified information to the media, we plan … Read more