Polygraphs

FBI Director Kash Patel faces intense scrutiny following reports of erratic behavior, including the distribution of personalized, branded bourbon to staff and civilians and the use of government aircraft for personal travel. These actions, coupled with aggressive leak investigations targeting journalists like Sarah Fitzpatrick and Hannah Natanson, have raised significant concerns regarding the erosion of established Department of Justice norms and the weaponization of polygraph examinations to ensure internal loyalty. Federal judges have intervened to block the government from accessing seized reporter devices, citing the protection of confidential sources and the overreach of search warrants. Meanwhile, former special counsel Jack Smith warns that the current administration has corrupted the Justice Department, undermining the rule of law. These developments underscore a broader shift toward a "gloves off" approach to media investigations, marking a departure from previous ethical guidelines governing the treatment of journalists and their records.