One of the questions on the polygraph test is "Have you ever lied on a government form?" That's kind of a catch-all because earlier in the process, they have applicants answer a long list of Y/N questions on the initial background screening form.

That combined with heightening stress levels by continually reminding the applicant of how seriously they take perjury, combined with basically a promise to dig up anything they aren't forthcoming with, it's pretty common for candidates to tell them all their secrets, because you have a better chance of passing the screening or getting a waiver if you're honest and can demonstrate that it won't be an issue for you.

Also, if it's the kind of dark secret that everyone in a small town knows but no one in the next town over does, then yeah that kind of stuff can come up when they're interviewing an applicant's acquaintances.

I mean I'm not here to defend Kash Patel, I think he's unqualified, incompetent, and wouldn't pass a recruitment screening if he had applied for it instead of being appointed to the top post. He shouldn't have passed his senate confirmation hearing, and I still don't think he has a security clearance.

But of all the things we could be knocking him for, easing a restriction to enable a former victim of human trafficking to pursue her dream job of taking down human traffickers isn't exactly something I can fault him for.

That is, if his story is true... on the other hand, it could just be a lie so that he can hire a college frat buddy whom he's personally seen fucking a donkey or something like that. But I don't see how we would ever know one way or the other...