DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL 

WHITEHURST REVIEW  CASE NO.   9403575

INTERVIEW OF FRED WHITEHURST BY SPECIAL AGENT JOE LESTRANGE AND OTHERS THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 1996, WASHINGTON, D.C.

[TRANSCRIPT PREPARED FROM A TAPE RECORDING]

10.     Page 357 - Lines 9-13

"OIG. Let's go back to Robillard.  In some of the correspondence you have said that Robillard remarked to you that the questioned documents unit, or perhaps the document section more broadly, lacks protocols.  Do you recall making that allegations?"

11.     Page 359 - Lines 4-13

"...the only thing that would point me in that direction was Mr. Robillard's comment that they have been winging it for years.  When they were talking about it, that's what he said.  I know I wrote that down, I put it on paper.  Al said other things to me that maybe today he wish he hadn't.  But I was -- it would have bothered that we recognize that we were winging it and we'd recognize we were winging it for a long time.  We hadn't been able to fix that situation."

12.     Page 359 - Lines 17-21

"Dr. Whitehurst:  What I understood Al to mean is that we just sort of went about it willy nilly.  We did it, we got to a point, we hadn't validated anything.  We hadn't said, will this work, will this not work, or whatever."

13.     Page 360 - Lines 6-15

"the winging it, to me--you know Al had made a comment to me about another matter where you know--and you've read it--where he said we want to sweep it under the rug.  And he was talking about some stuff that we consider pretty bad.  It spoke to a sort of a mindset where there is not much we can do about this, we've been winging it, let's see if we can fix it.  Okay.  And that's why--and I did not by  that mean to point at any documents exam that anybody did."

14.     Page 361 - Lines 5-19

"...One way you could interpret the things you said Mr. Robillard told you is that he, in effect, admitted that the questioned document unit had been giving opinions that were not supportable."

15.     "Dr. Whitehurst:  I interpreted winging it to really refer to a lack of protocol and validation of protocol and that sort of thing, that kind of issue.  And he pushed, you know, on the tail end of that kind of introduction, he pushed the protocol, put it on paper, let's test it out type of thing, very hard, very hard."

16.     Page 362 - Lines 7-12

"...are there any instances that you can identify for us where you think Robillard engaged in some kind of misconduct or unethical behavior?"

17.     "Dr. Whitehurst:     I was somewhat concerned when I went to Director Sessions, came back from there and it had already reached downstairs.  People just didn't do that, but he put out a memo and said come talk to me, and I read it and picked up the telephone..."

18.    The statements by Dr. Whitehurst can leave a reasonable person with questions of ethical and integrity challenges.  One can only wonder what other "interesting" issues are hidden from the public.  

The issue raised by prosecutors: "allegations he withheld exculpatory evidence" [in a murder investigation involving a young girl] is disturbing.

19.     The testimony of Dr. Whitehurst regarding Mr. Robillard as an FBI agent/Chief/supervisor - who stated they:

     1.     "have been winging it for years"

     2.     "were winging it and we'd recognized that we were winging it and we'd recognized we were winging it for a long time"

     3.     "sort of went about it willy nilly"

     4.     "we did it, we got to a point, we hadn't validated anything"

     5.     "we want to sweep it under the rug"

     6.     "and he was talking about some stuff that we considered pretty bad"

     7.     "it spoke of a mindset where there is not much we can do about this, we've been winging it"

     8.     "...Robillard told you is that he, in effect, admitted that the questioned document unit had been giving opinions that were not supportable"

     9.     Robillard LYING under oath is DOCUMENTED!  He portrays himself as "an authority" on handwriting examination of which he is not.    If a former  FBI agent will intentional lie under oath, what sort of person is he? 

20.     Certain of the 'services' Mr. Robillard offers, such as ink comparisons, would fall under the scope of scientific research and function of a properly educated and trained chemist.  Robillard is, to the best of my knowledge, not a qualified chemist.

21.    There is no documented evidence that Robillard ever personally handled one or more documented examination investigations from the point of reception, through proper study and examination, submission of written reports, trial preparation and testifying in any state or federal court as a document examiner.

22.     Information, including Robillards own admission, suggests his career with the FBI, in addition to his other positions, was as a hair and fiber expert not a document examiner.

23.    Robillard informed a Massachusetts state trooper that he knew he could not make in on the outside as a hair and fiber expert so he had the FBI certify him as a document examiner.  Hearsay to be sure.  However, I would hope Mr. Robillard would call the state trooper a liar in order to clear up this allegation.

24.    With all his amazing high positions, experience and multiple real or imagined work functions, one has to wonder why this rising star in the FBI was assigned as a field agent out of the Rhode Island FBI office for 1.5 years - prior to his retirement.

25.    Today, attorneys and the courts MUST determine if Mr. Robillard continues to "wing" it and, like when he was a supervisor with the FBI, "giving opinions that were not supportable" - or ...withheld [withholding] exculpatory evidence - ...destroyed [destroying] official documents [i.e exemplars and/or other crucial documents] - and sweeping it/them under the rug.

And, most importantly, with all his alleged education and training in handwriting examination (although as he testified in court) "the FBI does not have a training course") - where did he get answers to his question (s) about handwriting?  Of course!  As he testified in court: "I walked across the street and asked the CIA!"  If he is to be believed, he must have burned through dozens of pairs of shoes!

 It is said that:  The character of a person is measured by his behavior/actions - [i.e. Intentional lying under oath].  The reader can form his/her opinion of the character of this person.

Should you have the misfortune of any form of legal issue, and you are advised that Robillard is opposing you, DEMAND that Robillard be deposed!  To the best of my knowledge this man has not been subjected to any degree of surgical examination under oath.  Therefore, he continues to hide behind the FBI, knowing full well that information regarding his employment history is almost impossible to obtain and, he can continue to exaggerate and lie about his credentials.  And please remember, I could not post this information if it were not true.

Robillard is aware of my comments (see following page for certain comments from Robillards attorney) and, knows full well that he cannot rebut the facts.  One can only imagine what other information he is fearful I will uncover.  Is this the caliber of alleged (unproven, unverified, queastionable) document examiner you want representing or opposing you?

NOTE: Should any person be in possession of any DOCUMENTED QUEASTIONABLE information regarding this persons work history, court testimony, etc., please provide this information so Rice can post it for the benefit and welfare of past, present and future "clients".