Senator Larry Craig

Interrogation and Confession

Stan B. Walters

The interrogation of Senator Larry Craig was in my opinion a professional and appropriately conducted interrogation.  He was not coerced, forced or trapped into his statements.  Also in my opinion he
exhibits several verbal cues consistent with someone who is withholding information.

FOX News – The Big Story asked me to do an analysis of Craig’s interrogation by Minneapolis Airport PD Sgt. Dave Karsnia.  Here are some of my observations:

First: Karsnia conducted a “narrative based interview.”  Twice near the beginning of Craig’s interrogation, Karsnia asks Craig to tell his side of the story.  We know this type of interrogation is far more productive and in fact tends to allow the subject to produce my self-initiated deception cues.  In this case, Craig generates
plenty of them in my opinion.

During the first narrative, Craig uses what we call a “time bridge” in his statement.  Listen to the very beginning and Craig talks about having to wait a couple of minutes for a stall in his “usual” bathroom.  You know, the one he always uses at that airport.  (Is that like a regular table at your favorite restaurant?). After entering his stall, he starts drops his pants, spreads his legs so they won’t hit the floor, sits down and the next he knows are card appears under the sall that says “police.”  It’s not until after Karsnia asks more questions does Craig acknowledged his foot may have touched Karsnia’s foot.

Second: Craig responds at least a half dozen times with “I don’t know” or “I don’t recall.”  Need I say more.

Third:  Craig made some “very” interesting statements that to me are very telling.  Check these out. (I’ll try to get the exact quote) When Karsnia pointed out that Craig had put his hand under the partition ,palm up Craig responded “I don’t believe I did that.”

When Karsnia asks if he has been successful in these bathrooms before, Craig responds:
“I don’t seek activity in bathrooms.” (Remember, sometimes you’ve got to look for what’s missing.  He
doesn’t seek activities in “bathrooms.”)

Fourth: Craig states “I absolutely did not do these things” Note the denial flag expression.  Lugovoy, the former KGB
bodyguard says the same thing about the polonium poisoning of Letvenenko.  Lugovoy is now being sought by British MI 5 for this murder.

Finally: Near the end of his interview, Craig states: “I’m a respectable person. I don’t do these kinds of things.”  Now
have many of us have heard that one in an interrogation.

Now these last two cues cause me concern.  If I were investigating this case, I would be looking for more incidents by Larry Craig.  It’s just my opinion, but I predict in the future we are going to find out that Craig has had many more “encounters” not unlike this one and they all won’t be in bathrooms.

Listen for yourself and pick out Craig’s cues of behavior.
http://www./Kinesic.com/Audio/craiginterview.mp3

Prior to my appearance on FOX News – The Big Story, I was in the Green Room, watching Neil Cavuto.  Neil had Ben Stein as his guest.  Stein stated that Craig was “bludgeoned” by the cop and the interrogation and was a subject of “thuggery” by Sgt. Karsnia. Well, in my “professional opinion” Ben Stein doesn’t know the hell
he is talking about.

This was NOT an accusatory interview.  Sentor Larry Craig was not tricked, forced or coerced by the Sgt. Karsnia.  Now if legal scholars want to argue about the arrest and the incident itself and the legal nitpicking that lawyers do – fine knock yourself out but I’m saying Craig confessed voluntarily to Karsnia.

Stan B. Walters “The Lie Guy®”
http://www.TheLieGuy.com
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