Opinion ID: 3155932
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Churchwell’s Investigation and Admissions

Text: On June 4, 2012, Special Agent Matthew Ray (“the investigator”) of the United States Diplomatic Security Service (“DSS”) interviewed Churchwell about the disputed passports. Brian Clark (“Clark”), an assistant director at the HPA, attended the interview at Churchwell’s request. While Churchwell initially denied knowing the applicants or being involved with assisting them in obtaining passports, the investigator revealed to Churchwell that the DSS knew that Churchwell did know the applicants, had in fact assisted them in obtaining passports, and that the DSS had telephone records indicating conversations between Churchwell and either Russell or Brown. As a result, Churchwell admitted that he knew Russell and Brown and helped them to obtain passports, 8 but denied knowing that the applications were fraudulent.