Original reporting and commentary about polygraphs, voice stress analyzers, and other purported "lie detectors."
In an article titled, “FBI Flooded With Applicants,” Los Angeles Times staff writer William Overend reports that about 20% of special agent applicants who make it as far as the polygraph fail it. Excerpt: Mike Hilliard, who retired three years ago after 21 years as the chief recruiting agent in Los Angeles, estimated that about …
In a Dallas Morning News article titled “Narcotics unit has troubled past,” Robert Tharp reports on a massive but fruitless polygraph dragnet conducted by the FBI in the Dallas Police Department’s narcotics unit in 1996. Excerpt: The FBI investigated the narcotics division in 1996 at the request of former Chief Ben Click following the disappearance …
Manny Garcia, Peter Wallsten, and Amy Driscoll of the Miami Herald report of reliance on polygraphy in determining the credibiliy of statements made by an informant. Excerpt: The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI are investigating a possible plot to kill Gov. Jeb Bush with a truck bomb in Tallahassee, law enforcement officials …
Dennis Wagner of the Arizona Republic reports on the case of Faisal Michael Al Salmi. Excerpt: Faisal Michael Al Salmi, an Arizona man who was indicted as part of the federal anti-terrorism campaign, failed an FBI lie-detector examination when asked if he played a role in the Sept. 11 attacks, according to court records. However, …
Aldrin Brown of the Orange County Register reports on the case of Palestinian-American Tawfiq Mohamad Mousa in an article titled “O.C. man quizzed in federal probe.” Excerpt: A Palestinian-born Anaheim businessman jailed in Santa Ana on federal charges could be among the first known U.S. citizens targeted by the FBI’s expanding terrorism investigation, his attorney …
Pete Yost of the Associated Press reports. Excerpt: WASHINGTON (AP) – A Saudi man arrested near Washington Dulles International Airport the night of Sept. 11 passed an FBI polygraph test, his attorney said Friday. It was the second polygraph the FBI has administered to Khalid al-Draibi, who is jailed while under indictment for allegedly making …
Tom Godfrey of the Toronto Sun reports in this story carried by the Canadian website Canoe.ca. Excerpt: American authorities say Parkdale refugee claimant Nabil Al-Marabh has failed a lie detector test about his activities with al-Qaida and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. U.S. authorities said dozens of al-Qaida suspects were given polygraph tests by the …
In an article titled “Man Held (and Held) on Suspicion,” Los Angeles Times staff writer Patrick J. McDonnell reports on the case of Hady Hassan Omar, Jr. Excerpt: As far as federal authorities are concerned, it remains an open question whether Hady Hassan Omar Jr. is linked to terrorism. The 22-year-old native of Egypt and …
In an article titled, “Nation’s Frantic Dragnet Entangles Many Lives,” Los Angeles Times staff writer Patrick J. McDonnell reports on wave of detentions — often on scant evidence — that have come in the wake of the terrorist attacks of 11 September. The FBI has made wide use of polygraphy in interrogating detainees. This article …
Brooke A. Masters of the Washington Post reports in an article titled, “Man Named in Note in Hijacker’s Car Is Indicted.” Excerpt: An Alexandria security guard whose name and phone number were found in the car left behind by the hijackers who attacked the Pentagon was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on 12 …