Opinion ID: 1433971
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Denial of access to FBI report

Text: Whitfield claims that the district court erred in refusing to force the Government to produce and in failing to admit into evidence a 302 report created by the FBI following an interview conducted with Leonard Radlauer during the FBI's investigation of the Whitfield loan. Whitfield contends that Radlauer's testimony at the second trial contradicted his testimony before the grand jury and at the first trial, therefore he should been allowed to use the report for impeachment. In fact, Whitfield never requested that the FBI report be admitted into evidence. Therefore, he may not now claim error in respect to the report not being admitted. [28] See Montemayor, 703 F.2d at 114 n. 7. Rather, during a recess in the cross-examination of Radlauer, Whitfield's attorney requested that the district court review the report in camera to determine whether it contained any statements that were inconsistent with Radlauer's testimony at trial. When Whitfield sought to subpoena the FBI agent, the Government provided the district court with the report. The district court reviewed the report, and, finding no discrepancies, declined to disclose its contents to the defense. Where a district court has reviewed FBI reports in camera and determined that the material was not discoverable, we review only for clear error. See United States v. Williams, 998 F.2d 258, 269 (5th Cir.1993). After reviewing the record, we find nothing to suggest that the district court's ruling was clearly erroneous. See id. Moreover, Whitfield was free to use Radlauer's sworn testimony from the previous proceedings to impeach him during cross-examination at the second trial. See FED.R.EVID. 801(d)(1). Defense counsel was also permitted to, and did, cross-examine Radlauer concerning his statements to the FBI. We find no clear error.