On the Dangers of Polygraph Screening

In an article entitled “To Tell The Truth,” US News and World Report writers Kevin Whitelaw and David E. Kaplan put forth informed commentary on the dangers of security vetting by polygraph. Excerpt: … The task [of finding moles in the CIA] fell to [Edward] Curran, who sensed the nation’s premier spy agency was consumed … Read more

Retired FBI Counterintelligence Official Calls for More Polygraphs

In an article ironically titled “Americans See Through Blind Eyes,” Toby Westerman of WorldNetDaily reports on Centre for Counterintelligence and Security Studies dean David Major’s call for expanded polygraph screening. Excerpt: Polygraph examinations – lie detector tests – should be given to all U.S. government personnel having access to secret information in order to prevent … Read more

Senate Hearing on Issues Surrounding the Use of Polygraphs

The Senate Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing today on “Issues Surrounding the Use of Polygraphs.” The five witnesses who were invited to testify are former DoDPI director Michael H. Capps, Professor William G. Iacono of the University of Minnesota, former CIA general counsel Jeffrey H. Smith, attorney Mark S. Zaid, and past American … Read more

“Experts Disagree About Lie Detector”

Associated Press correspondent Jesse J. Holland reports on the Senate Committee on the Judiciary’s 25 April hearing on “Issues Surrounding the Use of Polygraphs.” Note that the only scientific expert among the witnesses who spoke was Professor William G. Iacono. Excerpt: WASHINGTON (AP) – The FBI might have started earlier to investigate Robert Hanssen, the … Read more

Senate Judiciary Committee to Hold Hearing on “Issues Surrounding the Use of Polygraphs”

On Wednesday, 25 April 2001, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, chaired by Employee Polygraph Protection Act co-sponsor Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), will hold an open hearing beginning at 10:00 a.m. in Room 226 of the Senate Dirksen Building. If you have information about which the committee should be made aware, contact the committee at … Read more

“Police to Press for Routine Lie Detector Testing of Officers”

Ha’aretz police correspondent Nicole Krau reports that police in Israel are seeking to conduct regular polygraph screening. Excerpt: The heads of the Israel Police are planning to ask a ministerial committee for a green light to conduct regular polygraph tests on their officers, as is routine in the case of security officials, Major General Moshe … Read more

“Freeh to Take Lie-Detector Test”

The Associated Press reports. Excerpt: WASHINGTON (AP) – FBI Director Louis Freeh and his senior deputies will take lie-detector tests as part of stepped-up security procedures following the arrest of a veteran FBI agent charged with spying for Moscow over a period of 15 years. “The director always includes himself in whatever policy applies to … Read more

“Nuclear Lab, Polygraphers at Odds”

Kathleen Koch reports for CNN. Excerpt: WASHINGTON (CNN) — The director of one of the nation’s nuclear weapons labs has told employees they don’t have to cooperate when asked medical questions by government polygraphers, CNN has learned. Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories, with headquarters near Albuquerque, New Mexico, have expressed concern that, before being given … Read more

“False Detector”

Sandia National Laboratories senior scientist Alan P. Zelicoff writes in a special to the Albuquerque Tribune. Excerpt: …DOE polygraphers claim that there are but four questions to the examination, all directly related to national security. This is a lie. In each and every polygraph, the subject will invariably be told something like this: “You’ve done … Read more

Sandia Director C. Paul Robinson: Employees Not Obliged to Answer Medical Questions from Polygraphers

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 … Read more