Question

Read the conversation.

CHAIRMAN REED. I’d like to call this meeting to order. Mr. Hollembeak, your willingness to meet with us today speaks to your openness and integrity in this investigation. I am looking forward to an honest and candid discussion. Members of the committee, please remember that we will reconvene in a closed session at 2 p.m. today to take a vote. Please hold your comments and questions until each statement has been read. Mrs. Louis, please begin.

MRS. LOUIS. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I begin by referring to my colleague’s November 22nd testimony that the files being discussed were not properly encrypted and that their security may have been compromised. Were you aware of this at the time?

MR. HOLLEMBEAK. I was not aware. Based on the findings of an internal review board that I established after my appointment in 2016, I concluded that my department’s security protocol was up to date.

MRS. LOUIS. I understand that you released a report of your findings on February 15th of last year. Am I correct?

MR. HOLLEMBEAK. You are correct.

CHAIRMAN REED. Do you have a copy of this report with you, Mr. Hollembeak?

MR. HOLLEMBEAK. I do. I have it here.

CHAIRMAN REED. Submitted for the record, Mr. Hollembeak’s security report, dated February 15, 2016.

What could Mrs. Louis do next to be an effective participant in this discussion?

A. ask Mr. Hollembeak for further details about his findings and report
B. ask Mr. Hollembeak to read the report aloud and then share his opinion
C. move on to the next topic of conversation to keep the discussion on track
D. challenge the validity of the report by questioning Mr. Hollembeak’s research methods

Answer 1

A. ask Mr. Hollembeak for further details about his findings and report

So far in the discussion Mr. Hollembeak has only said the conclusion of the report, but not any details about his findings. If Mrs. Louis wanted to challenge the validity of the report, she would first need him to give further details. This would lay the groundwork for her challenge. Reading the entire report aloud may be lengthy and rather tedious for this proceeding. Since the report has been submitted anyone can read it in its entirety at any time. Option C is also not correct because it would not be useful at this point to change the discussion topic.

Answer 2

Mrs. Louis could ask Mr.Hollembeak for further details about his findings and report.

The discussion aims to get the thruth about a possible leak of information by not properly encrypted files. Mr. Hollembeak defends himself stating that concerning his knowledge and responsabilities he is innocent of any negligence for his department's security protocol was up to date.

If Mrs. Louis wants to be an effective participant in the discussion she could ask Mr.Hollembeak further details about his findings and report in order to discover any contradictions in his statement and then feel free to move to another topic.