Richard spent 23 years inside the FBI’s disciplinary system, guiding more than 200 highly-skilled Agents and executives through every phase of charges, investigations, hearings, and appeals. Striving for fairness and justice, he saw firsthand that truth can be a double edged sword. Truth can be the best defense, but also the first casualty under pressure. Recognizing that a person’s own words often determine the outcome,  Richard developed practical methods to help people answer difficult questions without unintended consequences.

In his talk, “How to Tell the Truth … and Survive!”, Richard shares five strategic tips anyone can use to respond truthfully while avoiding blowback. From insurance investigators and workplace bosses to police encounters and even social media challenges, his insights reveal how truth can be delivered successfully – or not. 

Richard’s deep understanding of the power of words also stems from writing and maintaining the standard book of civil jury instructions used in every D.C. civil court trial for 25 years. Now retired from law practice, Richard published his methods in “Investigation Defense: What to Do When They Question You and continues to write on human consciousness and artificial intelligence, while occasionally assisting people facing high-stakes questioning.