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Jan 9, 2024

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Allegations of Improper Evidence Handling at the FBI Adam D. Hart CJ311

Introduction There is much debate on certain allegations pertaining to evidence being improperly handled at an FBI laboratory within certain units. The allegations that were made by Dr. Whitehurst created an in-depth investigation by the OIG that resulted in a conclusion that has created debate based on the validity of the investigation. In order to reach a statement in support of the OIG findings of this case, it is important to first discussion the events that led to this investigation, specific allegations made by Dr. Whitehurst, the OIG findings, and the events that followed after the investigations based on outside sources. Dr. Whitehurst initially did not create the investigation with the Justice Department. In 1994, Dr. Whitehurst reported his concerns with the FBI laboratory practices internally but, when his superiors failed to take any action, Dr. Whitehurst took his concerns to the Department of Justice (WINN Staff, 2017). This of course led to the investigation by the OIG. It was not until September of 1995 that the Department of Justice announced that the OIG was investigating the allegations (USDOJ/OIG, 1997). The investigation was a special case given the associations that the allegations had with major cases. The OIG investigation focused their efforts on certain units within the laboratory based on Dr. Whitehurst’s allegations. The three components of the Laboratory included the Explosives Unit, the Chemistry-Toxicology Unit, and the Materials Analysis Unit (USDOJ/OIG, 1997). Prior to the investigation, it was decided to expand the investigation beyond the allegations made. The Inspector General emphasized that the investigation would not be restricted to Dr. Whitehurst' s specific allegations but rather that the report would also address any other pertinent issues identified in the course of the investigation and comment on ways to further enhance the

quality of the Laboratory' s work (USDOJ/OIG, 1997). This would require an even more in- depth investigation given the amount of allegations Dr. Whitehurst had made. As mentioned previously, the allegations made focused on three major units of the laboratory—the Explosives Unit, the Chemistry-Toxicology Unit, and the Materials Analysis Unit. Among these allegations included the quality of the lab’s work, that the bureau forensics workers had often offered misleading or fabricated evidence in a number of cases to help prosecutors, improperly testified outside their expertise, presented insupportable conclusions, perjured themselves, and failed to follow appropriate procedures (Thomas, 1995) (USDOJ/OIG, 1997). More importantly, the allegations involved some the most highly publicized and significant cases investigated by the FBI during those years including the mail bomb assassination of United States Circuit Judge Robert Vance, the World Trade Center bombing, the attempted assassination of former President George Bush in Kuwait, and the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City (USDOJ/OIG, 1997). The OIG conclusion of the case had surprising findings. The conclusion of the case generally had the concept that majority of the allegations were untrue. The report of the investigation reflected an exhaustive effort to examine the multitude of allegations and technical issues raised by Whitehurst but found majority of these claims to be unfounded but did find certain deficiencies (USDOJ/OIG, 1997). In other words, the OIG found very little, if any, evidence of the claims to be true but found some aspects of the units involved that could use some improvements. In fact, the OIG had gone further by mentioning how impressed they were with the Lab’s efficiencies. The report stated that “the three units that were the focus of our inquiry, and in other parts of the Laboratory, we observed some examples of impressive forensic work (USDOJ/OIG, 1997).” Overall, the report does mention certain issues

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