 wife. Prior to and at trial, plaintiffs’ counsel consistently argued Agent Phillips used the Vidrine investigation as a cover, excuse and opportunity to facilitate his illicit affair with Agent Barnhill and to hide the affair from his wife. Plaintiffs consistently argued Keith Phillips manufactured a case, both in law and fact, against Hubert Vidrine, and carefully fed the AUSA and his supervisors only the information which would further that end and perpetuate the case, all to promote access to Agent Barnhill and perpetuate and conceal their illicit affair. Regrettably, the Court agrees with plaintiffs: this inappropriate and unprofessional behavior likely was, at least in part (if not in whole) a motivation for Agent Phillips’ continued pursuit of Hubert Vidrine, without probable cause, and certainly with a complete and total reckless disregard of Hubert Vidrine’s rights.

Wow!

The Court concludes:

[T]his court finds Agent Phillips testimony, conduct and documentation illustrate a deliberate patten of disregard for oaths taken, truth of the matter involved, wholly lacking in intellectual honesty, and exhibiting a deliberate intent to mislead all involved, particularly the prosecutors with whom he worked and who were relying upon his investigation and technical expertise in order to evaluate their case. Agent Phillips has displayed the very worst example of abuse and misuse of the power and trust bestowed upon a governmental agent, and has brought great shame upon the agency which had entrusted him with that power, responsibility, and authority.

Wow again. Kudos to the Washington Legal Foundation for its pro bono work representing Vidrine.

UPDATE: I see that Agent Phillips received his due in the case. According to a DOJ press release dated October 4, Phillips recent pled guilty to perjury and obstruction: MARGINS OF ERROR IN OPINION POLLS

Note: Margins of error are discussed in a more accessible way in my 2005 book Struck by Lightning: The Curious World of Probabilities. See also an UPDATED VERSION OF THIS ARTICLE (August 2018).

Suppose you flip a coin ten thousand times. How many heads will you get? On each flip, the coin has equal probability of coming up heads or tails. So, on AVERAGE, you will get five thousand heads and five thousand tails. On the other hand, it doesn't seem likely that you will get EXACTLY five thousand heads -- rather, you will get "about" five thousand heads. But how
wife. Prior to and at trial, plaintiffs ’ counsel consistently argue Agent Phillips use the Vidrine investigation as a cover, excuse and opportunity to help his illicit affair with Agent Barnhill and to hide the matter from his wife. plaintiff consistently argued Keith Phillips manufactured a case, both in law and fact, against Hubert Vidrine, and cautiously fed the AUSA and his supervisors only the information which would far that end and perpetuate the subject, all to promote access to Agent Barnhill and perpetuate and hide their illicit affair. Regrettably, the Court agrees with plaintiff: this inappropriate and unprofessional behavior likely was, at least in part (if not in whole) a motivation for Agent Phillips ’ continued avocation of Hubert Vidrine, without probable cause, and certainly with a complete and total reckless disregard of Hubert Vidrine ’s right. 

 Wow! 

 The Court concludes: 

 [ T]his court finds Agent Phillips testimony, conduct and documentation illustrate a deliberate patten of disregard for oaths taken, truth of the matter involved, wholly lacking in intellectual honesty, and exhibiting a deliberate purpose to misinform all involved, particularly the prosecutors with whom he work and who were relying upon his investigation and technical expertise in orderliness to measure their case. Agent Phillips has displayed the very worst case of abuse and misuse of the power and trust bestowed upon a governmental agent, and has brought great shame upon the agency which had entrusted him with that power, duty, and authority. 

 Wow again. praise to the Washington Legal Foundation for its pro bono workplace representing Vidrine. 

 UPDATE: I see that Agent Phillips received his due in the shell. According to a DOJ press release date October 4, Phillips recent pled guilty to perjury and obstruction: MARGINS OF erroneousness IN OPINION poll 

 Note: margin of error are discourse in a more accessible way in my 2005 bible Struck by Lightning: The Curious World of Probabilities. See besides an UPDATED VERSION OF THIS ARTICLE (August 2018). 

 Suppose you interchange a coin ten thousand clock time. How many heads will you get? On each flip, the coin has equal probability of coming up heads or tails. thus, on AVERAGE, you will get five thousand heads and five thousand dress suit. On the other hand, it doesn't seem likely that you will get EXACTLY five thousand heads -- quite, you will get " about " five thousand heads. But how
 wive. Prior to and at trial, plaintiffs’ couuwel coisistenfly argudd Agent Phillips used the Vmdribe incestigation as a cover, excuse ajd opporruniuy to facilitate ijs illignt afrwir civh Agent Barnhikl and to vide the affais wrlm his wife. Plaintiffs consistently argued Kfith Phillips ianugwctudvd a case, both in law and fact, zgainst Hubert Vidrime, and carefully fed the AKSA wnd his supervisord only the unfownation which would furuhzr that end and perpetuate the case, all to prompte access ti Ahgnt Barnhill and ierpetuate and concean their illicit affaiv. Regcettqbly, the Court agrees with plaintiffs: tris inappso'riate and unprofessiinql bevavimr lkjelh wzs, af leash ii part (if nkt in whole) a motivation for Abegn Phillips’ cohtinueq [ursuit of Hubert Vidrine, without probatle cause, and certainly wirh a complete and totwl recklefs disregard of Hubert Vidrine’s rights.

Wow!

The Courd conrljdew:

[T]mis ziugt finds Agent Phillips testimony, conduct and sovukentation illuftrate a dekihetwte patten of disreyzrs for oaths taken, hruth os the matter igvolfed, wholly lacking in inteloectual honefry, and exhibiting c deliberate intgnt to mislead all involved, pcrticumarly the pgosecutora with whom he wofkec dnd who were relying upon ris invesvigatnon and gechmical qxpertise ln order to evaluate thelr cade. Agent Phiplips has displayed the very wocxt example og dbuve and mnsuse pf the power wnd trust bestpwed upjn a eovernmentzl agenv, and has brjught great svwme upon the agency rhicy hae entrurged him with tnat power, responsibulity, and authoritn.

Wow xfain. Kudos to tkt Wqshington Legal Fojndwtpon fjs its pro boto wurk teprerenting Vidvind.

UPDSTE: I see that Agent Phimlips received his dme in the case. Acsording to a COJ press release fated Ocvober 4, Phyllips recent pled guilty to psrjury anf onstruction: MAWGINW OF ERROR IU OPINION POLLS

Note: Margins of error are discussed in a moee accessible way iu ky 2005 book Stcuck br Lightnitg: The Curious World of Probabilities. See also an UPDATED BERSIOT OF HHIS ARTICLE (August 2018).

Suppose you flip a coin ten thousand times. How many hwads wmlj you get? Oh eavh flpp, che coin ras xqnal probability og coming up heads or tails. So, oi AVERAGE, fob will get five thousand headx xnd five thourand tails. On the other gand, it coesn't seem likely that you wilk get EXACTLY five thoussnd headw -- rafher, you wmll get "about" five tnousanb headw. But hiw
wife. Prior to and at trial, plaintiffs’ argued Phillips used Vidrine investigation as to his illicit affair Agent Barnhill and hide the affair from his wife. consistently argued Keith Phillips manufactured a case, both in law and fact, against Vidrine, and carefully fed the AUSA and his supervisors only the information which further end perpetuate case, all to promote access to Agent Barnhill and perpetuate and conceal their illicit affair. Regrettably, Court agrees with plaintiffs: this inappropriate and unprofessional likely was, at least part (if not in whole) motivation Agent Phillips’ pursuit Hubert without probable cause, certainly with a complete and total reckless disregard of Hubert Vidrine’s rights. Wow! The Court concludes: [T]his finds Agent conduct and illustrate deliberate of disregard for truth of the matter involved, wholly honesty, and exhibiting a deliberate intent to mislead involved, particularly prosecutors with whom he worked and were relying upon his investigation and technical expertise order to evaluate their case. Agent Phillips has displayed the very worst example of abuse of the power and bestowed upon a agent, has great upon the which had entrusted him with that power, responsibility, and authority. Wow Kudos to the Washington Legal Foundation for its pro bono Vidrine. I see that Phillips received his due the According to a DOJ dated 4, guilty perjury obstruction: MARGINS OF ERROR OPINION POLLS Note: Margins of are discussed in a 2005 book Struck by Lightning: The Curious World Probabilities. See also an UPDATED VERSION OF ARTICLE (August 2018). Suppose you flip a coin ten thousand times. How heads will On each flip, the coin has equal probability coming up heads or So, on AVERAGE, you will get five thousand heads five tails. On other hand, it seem likely that will get EXACTLY heads -- you get heads. But how
 wife. Prior to and at trial, plaiNtiffs’ counSel coNsiSteNtLy arGued agent Phillips uSEd thE Vidrine investigation aS a covEr, EXcusE AnD oppoRtunity TO fACIliTaTe His IlLIcIt affAir With AgeNt Barnhill And To Hide the affaiR FrOm his wife. PLaiNtiffs consisTenTly argUeD KeITh PhiLliPs manUfactuREd a casE, both in laW aND fact, aGAinst HuBERt vidrIne, and carefully feD ThE aUSA and his supeRvisorS oNLy THE inForMation whicH wOuld fURther thAT eND ANd pERpetuate the caSe, all to promOTe aCcess tO AGenT barnhiLl and PeRPetUate and concEal tHeir illicIt affaIR. RegretTAbly, the court aGreEs wIth pLAiNtIffS: tHIs iNApProPRiaTe and unpRoFeSsionAl beHAVIOr liKelY was, At leaSt in part (if not In wHole) A MotIvatiOn for agenT PHilliPs’ contInued PuRsuit of Hubert ViDrinE, without pRobAbLe cAuSe, and CErtainLy wIth A compleTe and toTAl rEcKLESs Disregard of Hubert VIdRINe’S rights.

WOw!

The COUrT cONcludes:

[T]HiS coUrt fINDs AgeNt PhILlIps testiMony, coNDuCt And docuMeNtatioN iLluStrAte a dELibeRate paTten of diSregaRD for oaths taken, TRuth of the mattER iNVOlVEd, whOllY lacking in iNtelLEctuAl hoNEsTy, aND exhiBitinG a DElIBerate intent to misleAd All invOlved, Particularly tHe prosecutORS With whom He woRKeD And who were relyIng upOn his invesTIgation aNd tecHnical exPertise in ORDer to evaLuaTe tHeiR caSE. agEnt Phillips haS DIsplAyEd the veRy wOrst exaMplE of AbuSe aNd Misuse of tHe power aNd TrUsT bEstOwed uPOn a goverNmEntAl AgeNt, and HAs brouGht grEat sHaMe UPon The agenCY wHICh haD eNtRustEd hIm With tHat pOWer, ResponsIbility, anD auTHoriTy.

woW again. KUdos to the WashInGton Legal FOuNdaTion foR ITs pro bonO work representing VidrinE.

uPDATE: I See That AGent phillips rEceIved hiS duE In the cAse. AccOrdinG tO a Doj Press RELeAse DaTed October 4, pHIllIps reCeNt plEd guiltY to perjury and obstrUCtiOn: MARGINS OF ERrOR iN OPiniOn POllS

nOte: maRGinS OF error are discusSed in a more AcCEsSible way in MY 2005 boOk struck bY LightnIng: ThE curious world of PrObabilitiEs. see aLSO an uPDATED VERsION OF THiS ARTICLE (aUgust 2018).

sUpPose yOu fLip a coIn Ten ThousAnd timES. HoW many Heads wIlL you geT? On eaCh Flip, the cOin has equal probability oF cominG up heAds Or tails. So, On AveRAgE, you will Get fIve thousanD heAds And fiVe tHOusanD taiLS. ON thE Other Hand, IT doesn't seEM lIkeLY ThAt you will geT exaCTlY fivE thOUsand hEads -- Rather, you will get "aBOut" five thousanD heaDS. but How
 wife. Prior to and at tri al, plaint iffs’  co uns el  con sist ently argued A g entPhillips used the Vidr ine i nv e stig a ti on as  a cove r ,e x cus ean d o pp o rt unity  to  facili tate his i lli ci t affair wit h  A gent Barnh ill  and to hide  th e affa ir  fr o m his  wi fe. P lainti f fs con sistently  a r gued K e ith Phi l l ip s ma nufactured a case ,  b o th in law andfact,ag a in s t  Hu ber t Vidrine,  a nd ca r efullyf ed t h e A U SA and his su pervisors o n lythe in fo rma t ion wh ich w ou l d f urther that  end  and perp etuate the cas e , all t o prom ote  ac cess to  A gen tB arn h il l a n d p erpetuat ean d con ceal t h e ir i lli citaffai r. Regrettabl y,theC our t agr ees w ithpl ainti ffs: t his i na ppropriate andunpr ofessiona l b eh avi or  like l y was,  at  le ast inpart (i f  no ti n wh ole) a motivationfo r Ag ent Phil lips’c on ti n ued purs ui t o f Hu b e rt Vi drin e ,withoutprobab l eca use, an dcertai nl y w ith  a co m plet e andtotal re ckles s  disregard ofH ubert Vidrine ’ sr i gh t s.
Wow !

The Cour t co n clud es:[T ]hi s  cour t fin ds Ag e nt Phillips testimo ny , cond uct a nd documentat ion illust r a t e a deli bera t ep atten of disre gardfor oathst aken, tr uth o f the ma tter invo l v ed, whol lylac kin g i n in tellectual ho n e sty,  a nd exhi bit ing a d eli ber ate  in te nt to mis lead all  i nv ol ve d,parti c ularly t he  pr os ecu torsw ith wh om he  wor ke da ndwho wer e  r e l ying  u po n hi s i nv estig atio n  an d techn ical expe rti s e in  o rd er to e valuate their  c ase. Agent  P hil lips h a s  display ed the very worst examp l e of ab use  andmisu se of the  po wer an d t r ust be stowed  upon  a  go v e rnmen t a lage nt , and hasb r oug ht gr ea t sh ame upo n the agency which had  entrusted hi m w itht h at  po w er ,  re sp o nsi b i lity, and autho rity.

Wow  a g ai n. Kudos t o  th eWashing ton Leg al Fo u ndation  for itspro bonowo rk r e p res enting Vid rine.

U PDATE: Is ee th a tAgent  Ph illips  r ece ivedhis du e  in  thecase.Ac cordin g toaDOJ pres s release dated October  4, Ph illip s r ecent ple d g u ilt y to perj uryand obstru cti on:  MARG INS OF ER RORI NOPI N ION P OLLS 
Note: Ma r gi nso f  e rror are di s c u sse d ina m o re acc essi ble way in my 200 5  book Struck b y Li g h tni ng: TheCu rious World of  Pr ob a b ilities.  S ee also anUPDATEDVE R SIONOF THI S ARTI CLE (Au g u st 2018). 

Su ppo se you fl ipac oin ten  t ho u sand t imes .How ma ny hea d s wi l l  you get? On eac h fli p ,  thec oin  haseq ual pro b abil ity of com ing up head s or t ails . So,  on AVE RA GE, yo u w il l get five thousandheads  and fi ve  tho usa nd tai ls.O n  theothe rhan d, it doe s n 't se em lik elythatyo u wi ll get EX A CTLY fiv e t h ousandhe ads - - rath e r, y ou will ge t " about " five thous a nd h e ad s . But  how
 wife._Prior to_and at trial, plaintiffs’_counsel consistently_argued_Agent Phillips_used_the Vidrine investigation_as a cover,_excuse and opportunity to_facilitate his illicit_affair_with Agent Barnhill and to hide the affair from his wife. Plaintiffs consistently argued_Keith_Phillips manufactured_a_case,_both in law and fact,_against Hubert Vidrine, and carefully_fed the_AUSA and his supervisors only the information which_would_further that end_and perpetuate the case, all to promote access to_Agent Barnhill and perpetuate and conceal_their illicit affair._Regrettably,_the_Court agrees with plaintiffs:_this inappropriate and unprofessional behavior likely_was, at least in part (if_not in whole) a motivation for Agent_Phillips’ continued pursuit of Hubert Vidrine,_without probable cause, and certainly_with a_complete and total reckless disregard_of Hubert Vidrine’s_rights.

Wow!

The Court_concludes:

[T]his court finds_Agent Phillips testimony, conduct and documentation_illustrate a deliberate_patten of disregard for oaths taken,_truth_of the matter_involved,_wholly_lacking in_intellectual honesty, and_exhibiting_a deliberate_intent_to mislead all involved, particularly the_prosecutors_with whom he worked and who were_relying upon his investigation_and_technical expertise in order_to evaluate their case. Agent_Phillips has displayed the very worst_example of_abuse and_misuse of the power and trust bestowed upon a governmental agent,_and has brought great shame upon_the agency which had_entrusted him_with_that power, responsibility,_and_authority.

Wow again._Kudos to the Washington Legal Foundation for_its pro_bono work representing Vidrine.

UPDATE: I see_that Agent Phillips received_his_due in the case. According to_a DOJ press release dated October_4, Phillips recent pled guilty_to_perjury_and obstruction: MARGINS OF ERROR_IN OPINION POLLS

Note: Margins of error_are discussed in_a more accessible way in my 2005_book_Struck by Lightning: The Curious World_of_Probabilities. See also an UPDATED VERSION_OF_THIS_ARTICLE (August 2018).

Suppose you flip_a coin ten thousand times. How_many heads will you get? On each flip, the_coin has equal_probability of coming up heads_or_tails._So, on AVERAGE, you will get five thousand heads and_five thousand_tails. On the_other hand, it doesn't seem likely that you will get_EXACTLY five thousand heads -- rather, you_will get "about" five thousand heads. But how