Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The F.B.I. Is Using Polygraphs to Test Officials’ Loyalty
The New York Times ^ | July 10, 2025Updated 4:34 p.m. ET | Adam Goldman

Posted on 07/10/2025 2:05:59 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

Some senior officials who have taken the test have been asked whether they said anything negative about the F.B.I. director, Kash Patel, in a highly unusual use of the tool.

Typically, the F.B.I. has turned to polygraph tests to sniff out employees who might have betrayed their country or shown they cannot be trusted with secrets. Since Kash Patel took office as the director of the F.B.I., the bureau has significantly stepped up the use of the lie-detector test, at times subjecting personnel to a question as specific as whether they have cast aspersions on Mr. Patel himself.

In interviews and polygraph tests, the F.B.I. has asked senior employees whether they have said anything negative about Mr. Patel, according to two people with knowledge of the questions and others familiar with similar accounts. In one instance, officials were forced to take a polygraph as the agency sought to determine who disclosed to the news media that Mr. Patel had demanded a service weapon, an unusual request given that he is not an agent. The number of officials asked to take a polygraph is in the dozens, several people familiar with the matter said, though it is unclear how many have specifically been asked about Mr. Patel.

The use of the polygraph, and the nature of the questioning, is part of the F.B.I.’s broader crackdown on news leaks, reflecting, to a degree, Mr. Patel’s acute awareness of how he is publicly portrayed. The moves, former bureau officials say, are politically charged and highly inappropriate, underscoring what they describe as an alarming quest for fealty at the F.B.I., where there is little tolerance for dissent. Disparaging Mr. Patel or his deputy, Dan Bongino, former officials say, could cost people their job.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: adamgoldman; loyaltywhataconcept; nytsedition
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last

1 posted on 07/10/2025 2:05:59 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

And the problem is?


2 posted on 07/10/2025 2:08:14 PM PDT by digger48 (Mp)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Question #1. Do you believe Epstein killed himself?
The comedy is never ending? The memes will only get better.


3 posted on 07/10/2025 2:08:32 PM PDT by Wilderness Conservative (Nature is the ultimate conservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Good, as it should be.

Put Patel and Bongino on the box too. Ask them if their recent statement about Epstein are the whole truth and have they been instructed to leave anything out.


4 posted on 07/10/2025 2:09:28 PM PDT by bigbob (Yes. We ARE going back)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

They have been doing this since the polygraph was invented. As has the CIA, NSA, Secret Service, DIA, etc.


5 posted on 07/10/2025 2:14:05 PM PDT by clee1 (We use 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 2 to pull a trigger. I'm lazy and don't wish to smile.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Oops. Had to stop at question one of five:
1. Who is reporting it and what’s their angle? Always check the source. Is it an outlet known to lean Left, Right, or sensationalist? Look at the track record of the news source. Their editorial history can give clear signs whether they are pushing a narrative or giving you straight facts.


6 posted on 07/10/2025 2:14:24 PM PDT by silent majority rising (When it is dark enough, men see the stars. Ralph Waldo Emerson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

A NY Times hit job ... must be right on the money.


7 posted on 07/10/2025 2:18:46 PM PDT by RetiredTexasVet (Trump has arrived and it is awesome to have a real President.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

THANK YOU.

No heads up, no warning, just bring them in and hook them up.


8 posted on 07/10/2025 2:18:57 PM PDT by Cowgirl of Justice
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Who is running the test? The FBI polygraph guys?


9 posted on 07/10/2025 2:24:16 PM PDT by HYPOCRACY (Wake up, smell the cat food in your bank account. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: digger48

I worked as a government contractor for over 30 years. As a contractor you are ALWAYS eligible for a random polygraph. If you move into other classification areas you WILL get periodic polygraphs, no exceptions. If you move into other areas you get the polygraphs more often and randomly, including psychological assessments.

Take the damn polygraph or get the hell out. Two-faced bastards, what makes you so special?


10 posted on 07/10/2025 2:26:15 PM PDT by Agatsu77
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Awesome!!!

Maybe those same morons getting grilled today realize that the poly should be done away with in the future.

Poly is a bad idea. The issues they choose to focus in on tend to become political. It’s a highly subjective tool that only has a degree of reliability that is highly dependent on the polygraphers skill.

Some folks can lie through their teeth and never come up for deception. Others will come up as being deceptive when answering their name, correctly! (Not a joke BTW)

Why? It measures a physiological response and some people can lie and feel no shame or guilt doing so, while others get nervous when asked questions they answer truthfully.

It is “claimed” to be 80 - 90% accurate, but I would claim that is wishful thinking. Studies on college kids like at Texas Tech many years ago where they create some ideal scenario aren’t real. Don’t know where to guess the accuracy to lie, but lower than 80 - 90%.

Anyone actually trained and who practiced (like some foreign Intel folks do) to defeat the poly will fly under the radar.

If I remember right, this is one of those knee jerk reactions that was implemented (expanded the poly organization wide and made it routine) after Hanssen: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hanssen


11 posted on 07/10/2025 2:29:19 PM PDT by Red6
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cowgirl of Justice

Agree, no “studying”.


12 posted on 07/10/2025 2:31:06 PM PDT by Kudsman (I am Coal baby! Burning for you. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Agatsu77

You’re right.

And if they have to suffer through it, if they get grilled about stuff they feel is wrong asking about, maybe they realize this shouldn’t be.


13 posted on 07/10/2025 2:31:10 PM PDT by Red6
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Not that dependable. Need to use various methods to get a true picture. I understand Isael uses a few different methods for people entering the country.


14 posted on 07/10/2025 2:35:28 PM PDT by Mlheureux
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: digger48

Some of them were probably trained on how to defeat it.
Those that weren’t, may be trained by the corrupt CIA agents that haven’t been fired yet.

(Just my opinion)


15 posted on 07/10/2025 2:35:53 PM PDT by Bikkuri (I am proud to be a PureBlood.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Could we expand that to Congress?


16 posted on 07/10/2025 2:44:06 PM PDT by PTBAA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Good.


17 posted on 07/10/2025 2:44:52 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: clee1

Yep.

Not fun even when you’re ok.


18 posted on 07/10/2025 2:45:53 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Polygraph tests are nothing new for FBI employees. Since this is the NYT (brought to us, of course, by EPU) I question the “loyalty” angle questions. More likely it is that they have specific information on the individual making statements and seeing if he/she is being truthful; or, deep state members lying about being asked such a question. But, of course, the NYT cares nothing about whether there is truth to the accusation as long as it can be construed as negative to Trump and his Administration.


19 posted on 07/10/2025 2:45:57 PM PDT by falcon99 ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

“Hey North! Have you ever said anything negative about your employer’s CEO? Other executives? The board? Company policies?”

“Yes. I also follow the rules, even when I think they’re bullsnot.”


20 posted on 07/10/2025 2:47:27 PM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson