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ISCR 24-00644: Guideline E security clearance appeal, denied (2025) · CASE

ISCR Case 24-00644denied

Case headnote

ISCR Case No. 24-00644

deniedMay 13, 2025· Hon. Moira D. Modzelewski· appeal

Summary

An applicant, representing himself, was denied eligibility for a public trust position due to concerns under Guideline H (Drug Involvement) and Guideline F (Financial Considerations). The judge found that the applicant used marijuana while in a sensitive position. Additionally, the applicant failed to file federal income tax returns for multiple years, resulting in delinquent taxes owed, and had several minor delinquent consumer debts.

While the judge favorably considered the applicant's personal conduct under Guideline E, the disqualifying conditions related to drug involvement and financial considerations were not mitigated. The applicant did not assert harmful error in the judge's decision.

Consequently, the denial of the public trust position was affirmed on appeal.

Why the applicant was denied

The applicant used marijuana while in a sensitive position.
The applicant failed to file federal income tax returns for multiple years and owed delinquent taxes.
The applicant had several minor delinquent consumer debts.

Conditions referenced

Disqualifying

AG HappliedDrug Involvement
AG FappliedFinancial Considerations

Mitigating

AG EappliedPersonal Conduct

Key rule quoted

“The Board’s authority to review a case is limited to cases in which the appealing party has alleged the Judge committed harmful error.”

Procedural posture

SOR issuedJul 25, 2024
Answer filed—Applicant elected a decision on the written record.
Hearing held—Decision based on written record.
Decision dateMay 13, 2025Appeal affirmed.

Cite for

Adverse Findings on Drug Use While Holding a Security Clearance Under Guideline H
Financial Issues Leading to Denial Under Guideline F
Limitations of Appeal Review Regarding Harmful Error Assertions.

Editorial summary generated for research. Not legal advice; not a prediction. Verify against the full decision before relying on any quoted language.

Full decision

The complete, official text, footnotes and signatures included, is in the original PDF.

Decision text, by section

DEFENSE OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS

APPEAL

APPEARANCES

_______________________________________ ) In the matter of: )

)

----- )

ADP Case No. 24-00644

)

) Applicant for Public Trust Position ) _______________________________________) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEFENSE LEGAL SERVICES AGENCY DEFENSE OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS APPEAL BOARD POST OFFICE BOX 3656 ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 22203 (703) 696-4759 Date: May 13, 2025

APPEAL BOARD DECISION

APPEARANCES

FOR GOVERNMENT Andrea M. Corrales, Esq., Deputy Chief Department Counsel FOR APPLICANT Pro se The Department of Defense (DoD) declined to grant Applicant eligibility for a public trust position. On July 25, 2024, DoD issued a Statement of Reasons (SOR) advising Applicant of the basis of that decision – trustworthiness concerns raised under Guideline H (Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse), Guideline J (Criminal Conduct), Guideline F (Financial Considerations), and Guideline E (Personal Conduct) of the National Security Adjudicative Guidelines (AG) in Appendix A of Security Executive Agent Directive 4 (effective June 8, 2017) and DoD Directive 5220.6 (Jan. 2, 1992, as amended) (Directive). On February 27, 2025, Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals Administrative Judge Roger C. Wesley denied Applicant national security eligibility. Applicant appealed pursuant to Directive ¶¶ E3.1.28 and E3.1.30. In his response to the SOR, Applicant elected a decision on the written record. Prior to submission of the case to the Administrative Judge, the Government withdrew the Guideline J allegation and added further allegations under Guidelines E and F. The Judge found favorably for Applicant on the Guideline E allegations. The Judge found adversely to Applicant on the sole Guideline H allegation—that he used marijuana between November 2020 and December 2021 while in a sensitive position, i.e., one in which he held a security clearance. The Judge also found

adversely to Applicant on the eight Guideline F allegations, which included allegations that Applicant failed to file federal income tax returns for tax years 2018, 2019, and 2022, that he owed a total of approximately $10,300 in delinquent taxes for those years, and that he had three relatively minor delinquent consumer debts. On appeal, Applicant make no assertion of harmful error on the part of the Judge. Instead, he requests reconsideration of the Judge’s decision and provides additional information about the circumstances that led to his drug use and his steps to move forward, as well as the circumstances that led to his financial issues and his efforts to resolve them.1 The Appeal Board does not review cases de novo and is prohibited from considering new evidence on appeal. Directive E3.1.29. The Board’s authority to review a case is limited to cases in which the appealing party has alleged the Judge committed harmful error. Because Applicant has not made such an allegation of error, the decision of the Judge denying Applicant eligibility for a public trust position is sustainable. 1 With his appeal, Applicant includes a signed Statement of Intent (SOI) to abstain from drug use, dated September 12, 2024. Although there is some evidence that Applicant previously submitted —or attempted to submit—the SOI during the adjudicative process, it is clear from the Judge’s decision that he did not receive or consider the document. Under the facts of this case, we conclude that any error was harmless, as the SOI would not likely have resulted in a different outcome had the Judge considered it. See ISCR Case No. 00-0250 at 4 (App. Bd. Jul. 11, 2001) (discussing harmless error doctrine).

ORDER

The decision in ADP Case No. 24-00644 is AFFIRMED. Signed: Moira Modzelewski Moira Modzelewski Administrative Judge Chair, Appeal Board Signed: Allison Marie Allison Marie Administrative Judge Member, Appeal Board Signed: Jennifer I. Goldstein Jennifer I. Goldstein Administrative Judge Member, Appeal Board