Original reporting and commentary about polygraphs, voice stress analyzers, and other purported "lie detectors."
The following memorandum was distributed by e-mail at Sandia National Laboratories on 2 April 2001: This message, written by Labs Director C. Paul Robinson, is being sent at his request to all Sandians: As you have doubtless already heard, we have received complaints from a growing number of employees regarding the Congressionally mandated polygraphs for …
Albuquerque Tribune reporter Ollie Reed, Jr. reports. Excerpt: Medical questions on mandated polygraph tests are raising eyebrows among some scientists at Sandia National Laboratories. Rod Geer, a spokesman at the Albuquerque lab, acknowledged today that there is a growing concern among Sandia scientists that polygraph questions about the medications individual scientists take are invasive and …
Albuquerque Journal staff writer John J. Lumpkin reports. Excerpt: Some scientists at Sandia National Laboratories are charging that lie-detector tests started in the wake of the Wen Ho Lee case have become a little too personal. Polygraphers are asking scientists about their medical histories, including what medication they take, said Al Zelicoff, a medical doctor, …
Jo Anne Allen writes for Reuters. Excerpt: WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Some U.S. nuclear weapons scientists in New Mexico are boycotting required polygraph tests on the grounds that they contain questions unrelated to national security, a senior scientist said on Wednesday. “The polygraphers are asking medical questions — what medication you’re taking and what medical conditions …
Correspondent David Martin reports for CBS Evening News. Excerpt: (CBS) Scientists at Sandia National Laboratory in Albuqurque, New Mexico, one of three nuclear weapons labs run by the Department of Energy are in revolt, threatening not to take required lie detector tests, because they include personal questions which have nothing to do with protecting secrets, …
In this letter to the editor of the Los Alamos Monitor, Rick Nabel elaborates on Professor William G. Iacono’s recent remarks at a colloquium at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Excerpt: [Professor Iacono]…told me that he considers polygraphy to be the most boring thing he works on. Like many of us here at Los Alamos, he …
In an article entitled “Lab Security Measures Shelved Pending Study,” Washington Post staff writer Walter Pincus suggests that expanded polygraph screening has been suspended pending a review. Excerpt: In his last days in office, former energy secretary Bill Richardson temporarily suspended a series of measures that had been taken over the past two years to …
In a press release occasioned by the commencement of the National Academy of Sciences’ polygraph review, Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) expresses his concerns about the Department of Energy’s use of polygraphs: “I hope the work of this committee, backed by the NAS, will give us an objective analysis of polygraphs, and help determine the necessity …
Steven Aftergood reports in today’s edition of the electronic newsletter Secrecy News: NATIONAL ACADEMY BEGINS POLYGRAPH STUDY The National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences is undertaking a new review of the validity and reliability of the polygraph, or “lie detector.” The 18 month review, which was proposed by Sen. Jeff Bingaman and …
Dave Marash reports for ABC Nightline on the security crackdown at Los Alamos National Laboratory, including the new DOE polygraph screening program. Excerpt: JOHN BROWN, DIRECTOR, LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LAB The–the polygraph issue is a real challenge for a scientific culture like ours. DAVE MARASH (VO) Los Alamos lab director John Brown doesn’t hide his …