I don't understand why reporters/investigators in articles like these bother asking such loaded questions to officials as, "Do officers give leniency to license

I don't understand why reporters/investigators in articles like these bother asking such loaded questions to officials as, "Do officers give leniency to license frame bearers?" I feel like, if you're in that person's shoes, even if you know damned well they do, saying "yes" would be equivalent to answering "yes" to, "Would you like to lose your job or at least be put on leave within the next week?"