Role of an Attorney in DC Bribery Investigations
Being involved in a bribery investigation can be intimidating. This is why an attorney plays such an important role in DC bribery investigations. A skilled bribery lawyer can protect your rights while conducting an independent investigation and building a defense against the allegations.
Risk of Talking to Bribery Investigators Without a Lawyer
The most common mistake individuals make when being investigated for allegations of bribery is speaking to FBI agents or law enforcement officers before speaking to a lawyer. When the FBI investigates allegations of bribery, it is possible that they have been conducting the investigation long before anyone knows about it. That could mean that the FBI has secured warrants for a person’s emails or has been conducting undercover investigations using confidential informants or undercover agents.
By the time an individual is aware that they may be under investigation for bribery allegations, the FBI could have been investigating them for months or even years. Because federal law enforcement can use more aggressive and sometimes deceptive strategies and tactics when conducting their investigation, it is always important for individuals to protect themselves before engaging with FBI agents or any kind of law enforcement officers. Not doing so can result in an otherwise innocent person saying something that can hurt their case or result in them being charged with a completely unrelated crime.
FBI agents are permitted to lie to individuals they are investigating regarding the nature of the investigation, the evidence they already have, and the individual’s status in that investigation. For example, an FBI agent could tell someone that they are merely a witness in their investigation when in fact they are the lead suspect. Since speaking to FBI or law enforcement agents can seriously hurt one’s legal situation, it is essential to speak with a lawyer before having any communication with investigating agents.
How an Attorney will Build a Defense
An attorney can build a strong defense in bribery cases by ensuring that their client’s constitutional rights are not violated. An attorney can discuss anything a person may be under investigation for and what degree of contact they have already had with law enforcement agents.
Attorneys often keep an open line of communication with law enforcement so that they can learn where agents are in their investigation, why they are interested in an individual, and what they might be looking for. With this information, they can strategize, build an individualized defense against allegations, and advise their client. An attorney can also interview additional witnesses for information that may contradict the government’s witnesses’ statements. By thoroughly scrutinizing leads developed during their own investigation, attorneys can have a better understanding of the evidence being used to support bribery allegations and how to persuasively challenge that evidence.
It will also be vital for the defense attorney to research their client’s professional, family, and financial background. In order to present their client to the court in the most favorable way possible, the attorney might research their status within their community or in their personal and business relationships. When a person is under investigation, conducting their own research will help attorneys create a strong defense.
Protection Against Constitutional Violations
When an individual is under investigation for bribery allegations, some of the most common constitutional issues that can arise are illegal interrogations and searches. Everyone has the constitutional right to be protected from unreasonable searches and seizures. Investigators and FBI agents must obtain search warrants to search an individual’s private effects. An attorney can make ensure that law enforcement does not sidestep their constitutional limitations.
When an individual is subject to interrogation by law enforcement in a bribery case, the agents can be coercive, creating an intimidating environment where a person may feel pressured to say something they do not mean or admitting to actions they might not have done. The Constitution protects people from being subject to certain kinds of interrogations by law enforcement without first being informed of their constitutional rights. Constitutional violations by law enforcement agents during interrogations or searches in bribery cases could result in statements being suppressed or pieces of evidence being eliminated because they were obtained by violating an individual’s constitutional rights.
Learn More About the Role of an Attorney in DC Bribery Investigations
An individual should contact an attorney in a bribery case at the earliest possible opportunity. There is no situation in which having a lawyer will put that individual at a disadvantage. If an individual believes that investigators or FBI agents are interested in them for whatever reason, they should contact a lawyer immediately in order to best protect their rights and bolster their legal situation. Call today for help with your case.