If an important witness becomes hostile and argumentative during an interview, the interviewer should generally.

When an interviewee becomes hostile, the interviewer's primary objective is to de-escalate the situation. Reacting emotionally or becoming argumentative will only escalate the conflict and destroy any possibility of obtaining cooperation. By remaining calm, professional, and avoiding a reaction to the witness's provocations, the interviewer allows the person to vent. This professional detachment is a key technique for managing difficult interviews and can sometimes lead to the witness calming down enough to continue the interview productively.

B. Refuting the witness's arguments will escalate the conflict and turn the interview into an unproductive debate.
C. Attempting to reason with a highly emotional and hostile individual is generally ineffective until they have calmed down.
D. Terminating the interview is a final resort; the interviewer should first attempt to manage the situation professionally.

Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. (2023). Fraud Examiners Manual, International Edition. Section 3.318, "Handling Difficult People." The manual advises that when dealing with hostile witnesses, interviewers should attempt to disarm them by not reacting to their anger.