FORENSIC EXAMINATION OF THE MO KELLY / ROGER STONE AUDIO

FORENSIC EXAMINATION OF THE MO KELLY / ROGER STONE AUDIO

Forensic analysis provides proof that Roger Stone never made racial remark Editech Studios sound engineer and founding partner Eric Taush has performed a forensic analysis of the audio file from the July 18th, 2020 Mo'Kelly Show and he has determined that the audio has been manipulated so that an offensive comment was inserted into the original recording. It is important to recognize that this segment was pre-recorded on Thursday, July 16th and was therefore not broadcast live but aired on July 18, 2020.

Statement of Eric Taush:

On July 28, 2020 I reviewed the audio file of the July 18th, 2020 Mo'Kelly show and put it through an extensive forensic reconstruction and analysis to ascertain its authenticity and after careful scrutiny I have determined that the recording has been doctored. My analysis shows that Stone’s audio feed was terminated at least twice during the period of the interview. My analysis of the MO Kelly / Roger Stone audio files focused on the claim MO Kelly has made that Roger Stone used a word that is considered racially offensive in a segment of audio during the interview. Upon review it is clear that Mr. Stone’s audio was disconnected twice during the interview. In fact, my analysis indicates that Mr. Stone’s phone was NOT connected to the show at the time of the controversial comment and based on forensic analysis that segment appears to have been added in post-production. I substantiate this claim below. Cell phone interference is common in “phone in interviews” Mr. Kelly claims it is unheard of. That is incorrect.

We conducted an examination of the audio and that is where the podcast host’s story began to fall apart. Using spectral analysis software, I have determined that the segments of the doctored clip clearly exhibit fluctuations in the ambient noise floor where the recorded voice has been altered.

Mo Kelly has made the assertion that there was no audio interference on the call. Yet on the audio we analyzed interference IS present. This data is in scope with the several other anomalies discovered on the audio sample.

The ambient noise floor of he controversial segment is markedly different than the balance of the interview. This is also the only segment with substantial interference.

This was proven by putting the audio sample on both a wav data analyzer and a spectrum frequency analyzer as well as several other audio data visualization tools.

There is crystal clear evidence that the segment was tampered with using a DAW. The engineer could have covered his tracks by normalizing and by utilizing a cross fade but chose not to. This left behind the clearly identifiable entry and exit points of the inserted audio which were heavily saturated with audio interference.

Because we can find the insertion point AND exit point where the audio sample was added, we know that audio was inserted.

Further evidence of the insertion is the drop in the volume level of Stone’s voice.

We analyzed the audio sample by scoping the data. The level of Stone’s voice throughout the entire interview is consistent. Only in the contested segment is there an appreciable drop in the audio level of Stone’s voice.

Even the authenticity of the inserted section is questionable. When slowing the speed it appears the entire segment was computer generated where words were taken from other audio sources of Stone’s voice. This technique is often used in spoof videos and is, in fact quite common.

It is my understanding that other sound engineers have conducted their own analysis of the audio tape and reached the same conclusions I have but have been unwilling to publicly certify their findings because of the controversial nature of those involved in this dispute. We at Editech stand behind our findings in this analysis.