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Why the FBI doesn't record interviews
The Hill ^ | 05 26 2020 | James M. Casey

Posted on 05/26/2020 11:16:19 AM PDT by yesthatjallen

The FBI’s interview of former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn about his telephone conversations with Russian Ambassador Kislyak renewed a frequent question: Why doesn’t the FBI record its interviews? After all, if a recording of Flynn’s January 2017 interview were available, and not just a heavily redacted form FD-302, there might not be such controversy about whether Flynn lied to agents about the conversation. Despite the fact that recorded interviews can be helpful, there are good reasons the FBI does not record all interviews — even though a 2014 Department of Justice policy states they should default toward recordings.

First, an estimated 75 to 85 percent of a street agent’s work consists of interviewing people. These interviews come in the form of background investigations, criminal and intelligence investigations, source debriefings and other pertinent conversations. While it’s technically possible to record and store all such conversations, it would be a challenge. Next, if the policy was to record all interviews, then we would be in the same imbroglio that we are in with the Flynn case for any FBI interview that is not recorded. Questions would abound about why a non-recorded interview occurred.

Unlike some other law enforcement agencies, the FBI documents via the 302 case report all interviews, whether they are positive or negative. If agents conducted a canvass of a neighborhood in a bank robbery investigation, for example, a separate 302 would be completed for every individual with whom the agents talk, even if nobody saw anything. Other agencies might do one report reflecting that all the contacts were negative, or might not document anything. Many agencies that record interviews restrict them to subject (or suspect) interviews. They do not record witness interviews, and it has been suggested that the FBI do exactly this.

SNIP

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


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: entrapment; fbi; interviews; jamesmcasey
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Why the FBI* doesn't record interviews

To protect the guilty*

"James M. Casey was a law enforcement officer for 32 years, 25 of them at the FBI. He served on the National Security Council in 2004-2005 and retired in 2012 as the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Jacksonville Division. He is president of FCS Global Advisors, an investigative and crisis management firm."

1 posted on 05/26/2020 11:16:19 AM PDT by yesthatjallen
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To: yesthatjallen

Cause Hillary’s coffee table didn’t have room for that many cassette tapes?


2 posted on 05/26/2020 11:20:16 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog (Patrick Henry would have been an anti-vaxxer)
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To: Buckeye McFrog

I would never answer any questions from the FB I unless I made my own recording of it.

Sorry, I used to not feel that way; but the days of Efrem Zimbalist Jr. and Jimmy Stewart are long over.


3 posted on 05/26/2020 11:23:03 AM PDT by CondorFlight
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To: yesthatjallen

If you’re going after the President of the US in a coup, you should record it. THAT MUCH I KNOW.


4 posted on 05/26/2020 11:23:27 AM PDT by RonnG (')
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To: yesthatjallen

They don’t record so they can protect lying and deception by the police.


5 posted on 05/26/2020 11:23:55 AM PDT by Reno89519 (Buy American, Hire American! End All Worker Visa Programs. Replace Visa Workers w/ American Workers)
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To: yesthatjallen

There’s a video on YouTube where a city police officer discusses police interrogations. The cop said that every interrogation room has hidden recording devices, even when the suspect is assured there are none. No surprise there.

But then the cop said that after the interrogation was over, he’d listen to the recording and make notes. Then he’d erase the recording. He never explained why he did that. I found that to be very puzzling.


6 posted on 05/26/2020 11:24:18 AM PDT by Leaning Right (I have already previewed or do not wish to preview this composition.)
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To: yesthatjallen

Digital media overcomes the authors points
Recorded interviews would, until redacted, show the lies that agents use just like every cop out there


7 posted on 05/26/2020 11:24:41 AM PDT by lag along
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To: yesthatjallen

Officially, they don’t.
It’s probably a safe bet that unofficially, they do.


8 posted on 05/26/2020 11:25:12 AM PDT by lee martell
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To: yesthatjallen

Anyone have a conversation with the FBI is nuts. Anyone having a conversation without counsel present is certifiable. The FBI have been scummy since 9/11.


9 posted on 05/26/2020 11:25:54 AM PDT by Vermont Lt
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To: yesthatjallen

Trump has all the goods on these idiots

Comey he was completely corrupt as hell and went on some stupid liberal show and bragged about how corrupt he was sending those FBI agents in

trumps got him dead to rights and they know it

so this is all going to be damage control now because Trump is smart enough to let this just got it flow out drip drip drip over the next few months actually and then really hit him with it around September with indictments

Best. Election. Ever


10 posted on 05/26/2020 11:26:30 AM PDT by Truthoverpower (The guv-mint you get is the Trump winning express ! Yea haw ! Trump pence II!)
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To: yesthatjallen

If the “Authorities” are dishonest, it doesn’t matter.

if the “Authorities” are honest, it doesn’t matter.

Strange as it might seem, these statements actually both work.


11 posted on 05/26/2020 11:29:49 AM PDT by Macoozie (Handcuffs and Orange Jumpsuits)
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To: RonnG

“If you’re going after the President of the US in a coup, you should record it. THAT MUCH I KNOW.”

NEVER record when engaged in illegal activities.


12 posted on 05/26/2020 11:30:55 AM PDT by TexasGator (Z1z)
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To: yesthatjallen

I understand why the FBI would not want to make recordings of witnesses and people who provide routine information in background investigations. But generally, those statements ARE NOT GOING TO BE USED AS EVIDENCE IN A CRIMINAL PROCEEDING AGAINST THE PERSON MAKING THE STATEMENT!

There is absolutely NO EXCUSE for not recording the statement of the target of a criminal investigation. Unless, of course, you want to lie about what you claim the witness lied about.


13 posted on 05/26/2020 11:33:24 AM PDT by henkster ("We can always fool the foreigner" - Chinese Proverb)
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To: yesthatjallen
While it’s technically possible to record and store all such conversations, it would be a challenge.

God forbid that it is "a challenge" to preserve a suspects civil rights. We wouldn't want an agent to break a sweat over it.

14 posted on 05/26/2020 11:34:09 AM PDT by fhayek
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To: CondorFlight

Oh, I am with you on that.

If the FBI wants to talk to me they’ll get nothing but silence. I don’t care if they tell me they’re hot on the trail of the next Bin Laden.

And if I am ever seated on a jury where any of the evidence was in their possession I’m voting to acquit. You all should too.


15 posted on 05/26/2020 11:34:23 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog (Patrick Henry would have been an anti-vaxxer)
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To: yesthatjallen
"They wouldn't dare!" < /HRC >


16 posted on 05/26/2020 11:34:34 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (Joe Biden- "First thing I'd do is repeal those Trump tax cuts." (May 4th, 2019))
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To: yesthatjallen

With interviews recorded only in notes then the information gleaned is what the agent interviewing wants it to be.


17 posted on 05/26/2020 11:35:23 AM PDT by arthurus (mus covfefe did)
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To: Truthoverpower

How is it possible that
1 a person can be charged with a crime for a “lie” to an FBI agent.

2. there is no need for this FBI agent to produce concrete proof of this “lie” to potentially prosecute

3. LEOs can use trickery, deception or Lies to a person that they are interviewing.

You can not have all three of these things at once.

the “Famous But Incompetent” need to be disbanded and a new interstate law enforcement Agency with strict rules needs to be established. With SEVERELY limited scope.


18 posted on 05/26/2020 11:35:27 AM PDT by uranium penguin
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To: yesthatjallen
All LEO interview/interrogation use the same technique. They ask you the same questions over and over. If you change a phrase or a key word, you've lied is their default position.
NEVER EVER AGREE TO AN INTERVIEW WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY PRESENT. AND HAVE THE ATTORNEY ASK TO RECORD THE INTERVIEW. Yes, it will cost money, but your chances of escaping a perjury trap is greatly enhanced.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT!

19 posted on 05/26/2020 11:36:28 AM PDT by A Navy Vet (I'm not Islamophobic - I'm Islamonauseous. Also LGBTQxyz nauseous.)
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To: Vermont Lt
Anyone have a conversation with the FBI is nuts. Anyone having a conversation without counsel present is certifiable. The FBI have been scummy since 9/11

It has been scummy all the time. Just like any govt. agency or every president. Only occasionally we get good one.. by the grace of god.

20 posted on 05/26/2020 11:37:50 AM PDT by va22030
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