Posted on 03/22/2005 6:50:38 PM PST by Run Silent Run Deep
OKAY!
You will not be allowed to tape the interview if you go to their office.
So9
"Get a lawyer, and take the lawyer with you to the interview."
I second what Keith said, to the letter. And don't get any old atty either, call around and get one familiar with this sort of stuff. At least get a real criminal defense attorney. Maybe you'll waste some money, but I would not undergo any interview with any LEO without an attorney, guilty, innocent, whatever. Provide the atty with whatever they gave you, even if it is just a business card. Oh yeah, and make sure these people really ARE FBI agents.
I find it hard to think this has anything to do with DU. You didn't threaten John Kerry's life, did you? If not I'd think you were OK.
Talk to them and ask THEM what is this all about?
Geesh!
You sound like you already have something to hide.
If you're really paranoid, bring a lawyer with you.
You followed procedure and lined your pick-up bed with "astro turf", conveyed an intrest in blonde, vocal ladies with fat ankles, and toted a profound sniff didn't you?
Actually, the ATF still owe me some documents that they took as part of an investigation. I called about them several weeks after I was originally supposed to get them back and a field agent laughed at me and hung up.
I know it sounds a bit paranoid, but it works for me. I'm a journalist. People expect me to have a tape recorder. I normally carry three or four of them. They always have my notes on them. Not a problem. I record every "official" meeting I have, including meetings with my children's teachers and principals. The only way they can object is to arrest me.
If I could help the FBI out in some way that pertained to my patriotic duty as a citizen I would.
If they were looking at me for ANYTHING I would make one statement to them and it would be the last thing I ever said to them: I understand you people prosecute folks for lying to you and that you determine what is a lie, therefore I cannot talk to you ... ever.
BTW, anybody who would have brought a recorder to a personal hearing in any business I conducted for the government would have found himself engaging in a very long conversation about the weather and their personal hygiene.
Remember, the agents have their own rights, and they are going to protect themselves, not just the government.
No matter what, wear a jacket and tie, carry some 3X5 cards in your coat pocket, take a pen. Best bet is to collect their business cards (they all have them and are collectibles worth something on the market some day). Write down their names on one of your cards ~ get their phone numbers that they are using (which may be different than the ones on the cards). Discover their mailing address. Lots of these "fibbies" and other DOJ people have fake business addresses ~ this is because they really do have enemies who'd like to harm them.
Odds are they will not give you a transcript of your meeting, nor will they sign anything. If you have one of those handy-dandy cellphone cameras, they'll probably request you to check it with the receptionist before even telling you their names. You should request the same courtesy of course!
Now a typical federal agent is going to be carrying a piece with him at the office. Some of them have more than 1 in fact. Most will remove their jackets so you can see their weapon if you wish. I had a meeting with one of them once when he crossed his legs and a couple of guns fell out of his britches ~ he'd just come off a 6 month stake-out and was quite nervous.
No sudden moves!~ I can't emphasize that enough, and if you are hard of hearing, let them know that IMMEDIATELY UPON ENTRY.
I suspect this is going to be one of those "do you recognize this" deals, and it might be a picture, or the internet stuff, or someone you might have done business with. That would be one of the reasons for them to ask you to their office rather than for them to come to your office.
Make sure they arrange for your parking and give you a voucher for your gasoline costs.
Go talk to them, they're the good guys.
More advice my FRiend, Radar screens are used to find in climate weather, lock guided missiles, and used defensively to protect from adverse situations, so "keep your head out of that screen".
BTW, sometimes moving something through the various "due" processes takes longer than can be imagined. I've seen evidence in civil cases hang around the office for decades!
Was any part of either side of your discussions on DU concerned with causing harm to anyone? Even figuratively?
Have family that had a top government clearance....They, their neighbors, their family are regularly called in. The one with the clearance even had to take lie detector tests.
Last I heard the stuff was in boxes in a warehouse in Arizona. That was 1995.
Do yourself a favor and plead the 5th to FR before it's too late! ; )
Call lawyers until you find one that personally knows, and has worked cases with, the agent that wants to talk to you. You'll know you've found the right one when he is able to tell you either immediately or after making a couple of phone calls, what they want to talk to you about.
Don't you think he's just a tad paranoid?
Just a tad?
Also why announce it here?
He doesn't know who he is talking to.
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