Impeachment — Bad Character for Truthfulness (F.R.E. 608(a)) is a rule of evidence that allows a party to attack the credibility of a witness by introducing evidence of the witness’s bad character for truthfulness. This type of impeachment is governed by Federal Rule of Evidence 608(a). The rule states that evidence of a witness’s pertinent trait of character may be used to attack or support the witness’s credibility. The witness’s bad character for truthfulness is a pertinent trait of character that can be used to impeach the witness. The evidence that can be used to impeach the witness must be relevant to the witness’s character for truthfulness and must be based on personal knowledge. There are two types of impeachment — Bad Character for Truthfulness (F.R.E. 608(a)): direct and indirect. Direct impeachment involves a party introducing evidence of the witness’s prior bad acts related to truthfulness. Indirect impeachment involves a party introducing evidence of the witness’s reputation for truthfulness in the community.