Which action challenges a witness's credibility by highlighting inconsistencies with past statements?

Which action challenges a witness's credibility by highlighting inconsistencies with past statements?

• A. Perjury
• B. Impeaching the witness
• C. Deposition
• D. Affidavit

Answer: (B)

Impeachment of a witness is the action that challenges credibility by exposing inconsistencies between statements made in the past and what the witness says on the stand now. This approach directly tests whether the testimony is reliable, since if a witness has previously stated something different, their current assertions may be viewed as less trustworthy. While perjury refers to lying under oath and deposition or affidavit are methods of capture or documentation of statements, the specific act described—showing prior inconsistencies to undermine credibility—is impeachment.

Impeachment of a witness is the action that challenges credibility by exposing inconsistencies between statements made in the past and what the witness says on the stand now. This approach directly tests whether the testimony is reliable, since if a witness has previously stated something different, their current assertions may be viewed as less trustworthy. While perjury refers to lying under oath and deposition or affidavit are methods of capture or documentation of statements, the specific act described—showing prior inconsistencies to undermine credibility—is impeachment.