by Polygraph tests are typically used by the FBI to identify personnel who may have betrayed their country or demonstrated that they cannot be trusted with secrets.
Since Kash Patel became the F.B.I.’s director, the agency has considerably increased its use of the lie-detector exam, sometimes asking staff members if they had malicious intent toward Mr. Patel.
According to two persons with knowledge of the queries and others with similar claims, the FBI has asked top workers if they have said anything bad about Mr. Patel during interviews and polygraph tests. In one case, the agency wanted to find out who told the news media that Mr. Patel had asked for a service weapon—a strange request because he is not an agent—and officials were compelled to take a polygraph. Although it is unknown how many officials have been specifically asked about Mr. Patel, multiple persons with knowledge of the situation stated that the number of officials asked to take a polygraph is in the dozens.
The F.B.I.’s larger campaign against news leaks includes the use of the polygraph and the type of questioning that was conducted, which partially reflects Mr. Patel’s keen awareness of his public persona. Former bureau personnel claim that the actions are extremely inappropriate and politically driven, highlighting what they term an unsettling quest for loyalty at the F.B.I., where dissent is not tolerated. According to former officials, workers could lose their jobs if they disparage Mr. Patel or his deputy, Dan Bongino.
According to James Davidson, a former agent who worked for the FBI for 23 years, an employee’s devotion is to the Constitution rather than the director or deputy director. The fact that Patel is even considering this speaks much about his frail constitution.
The content of the article is not being retrieved.
Please make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.
We appreciate your patience as we check access. Please log out of Reader mode and sign in to your Times account, or subscribe to The Times in its entirety.
We appreciate your patience as we check access.
Are you a subscriber already?Sign in.
Do you want to read every Times article?Sign up.
