Tag «polygraph screening»

Espionage Act Conviction of Former FBI Intelligence Analyst Kendra Kingsbury Raises Questions About the FBI’s Personnel Security Polygraph Program

On Wednesday, 21 June 2023, U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough sentenced former FBI intelligence analyst Kendra D. Kingsbury, 50, of Kansas to 46 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Kingsbury is to begin serving her 46-month sentence no later than 21 July 2023. On 18 May 2021, Kingsbury …

A Conversation on Polygraph Policy with U.S. Senate Candidate David C. Graham

On Thursday, 20 October 2022, AntiPolygraph.org co-founder George Maschke spoke with David C. Graham, the 2022 Libertarian Party candidate for the United States Senate from the state of Kansas. Topics addressed include the 2015 trial of the late Douglas Gene Williams, who was sentenced to 2 years in prison for teaching undercover federal agents how …

Senate Bill Would Mandate Polygraph Screening of Chinese, Russian, and other Foreign Nationals at the Department of Energy

On Wednesday, 27 July 2022, U.S. senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced Senate Bill 4634, “A bill to require the Secretary of Energy to administer polygraph examinations to certain foreign nationals with access to nonpublic areas or information of the National Laboratories.” The full text of the bill is available here (PDF). …

Halifax Scraps Polygraph Screening of Police Applicants

On Tuesday, 8 February 2022, the regional council of Halifax, the largest municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, voted to end polygraph screening of applicants for employment with the Halifax Regional Police as of 30 September 2022. See Zane Woodford’s reporting for the Halifax Examiner and Jen Taplin’s reporting for the Chronicle Herald. …

On the Origins of the NSA Polygraph Program

In 1951, the NSA’s forerunner organization, the Armed Forces Security Agency, began “voluntary” polygraph screening of civilian applicants for employment. On 6 December 1953, the National Security Agency (NSA) made pre-employment polygraph screening mandatory for civilian applicants. Writer Stephen Budiansky describes the origins of the NSA’s polygraph program at pp. 163-65 of his 2016 history, …

Light ‘Em Up Podcast Interviews AntiPolygraph.org Co-Founder George Maschke

In the 29th episode of his true crime Light ‘Em Up podcast, host Phillip L. Rizzo speaks with AntiPolygraph.org co-founder George Maschke. Topics discussed include Maschke’s personal experience with the polygraph, the scientific shortcomings of polygraphy, polygraph policy, and countermeasures. The 56-minute edited interview may be listened to on Pandora. The episode is also available …

Former NSA Polygraph Division Chief Says Polygraphs Should Not Be the Deciding Factor in Visa Determinations for Afghan Interpreters

Thomas P. Mauriello, who once headed the NSA’s Polygraph Division, tells Newsy national security reporter Sasha Ingber that while he thinks the U.S. government should use polygraphs, they alone shouldn’t be the determining factor in decision-making. Mauriello’s remarks came in the context of a video report titled, “Ex-Polygraph Chief: Polygraphs Need Not Deny Afghan Interpreters …

Former DoD Polygraph Chief Casts Doubt on Policy of Denying Visas to Afghan Interpreters Based on Polygraph Results

In a report published online on Tuesday, 27 July 2021, Newsy In the Loop presenter Christian Bryant asked national security reporter Sasha Ingber about the plight of Afghan Special Immigrant Visa applicants who have been rejected because they failed a polygraph: Bryant: You know, one of the things that we’ve talked about is the fact …

CNN on Plight of Afghan Interpreters Terminated for Failing Polygraphs

In a report presented by foreign correspondent Anna Coren, CNN chronicles the plight of Afghan linguists who served with United States forces but have been denied Special Immigrant Visas. Both interpreters showcased in the video report were fired because they failed pseudoscientific polygraph “tests.” The following is an excerpt from the written article accompanying the …