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ISCR Case 06-25157.a1 — CASE

ISCR Case 06-25157.a1denied

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 06-25157.a1

Apr 4, 2008· Hon. Jean E. Smallin· appeal

Summary

The applicant, representing himself, was denied a security clearance under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline F (Financial Considerations). The denial stemmed from a lengthy and serious history of not meeting financial obligations, which raised concerns under Disqualifying Condition F1.

Additionally, the applicant provided false information regarding his indebtedness on his security clearance application, a factor falling under Disqualifying Condition E2. These issues collectively formed the basis for the government's security concerns.

Despite presenting some mitigating evidence, the judges determined it was insufficient to overcome the established financial problems and the misrepresentation on the application. Consequently, the security clearance denial was affirmed.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

F1raisedFinancial Considerations
E2raisedPersonal Conduct

Key Rule Quoted

“The mere presence of some mitigating evidence does not alone compel a favorable security clearance decision.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedMar 16, 2007
Answer filed—
Hearing heldDec 20, 2007
Decision dateApr 4, 2008

Cite For

Insufficient Mitigating Evidence Under Guideline F
False Information on Security Clearance Application Under Guideline E
Burden of Proof Shifts to Applicant After Government Raises Security Concerns

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

Appeal at a glance· Full written decision

Affirmed

The appeal involved an applicant seeking a security clearance who was denied due to concerns under Guidelines F and E. The applicant argued that the Judge did not adequately consider his mitigating evidence. The Board affirmed the Judge's decision, finding no harmful error in the weighing of evidence.

Appealed bythe applicant

Applicant representationPro se (self-represented)

Judge belowPaul J. Mason — denied the clearance

Decided ona hearing

Guidelines belowGuideline FGuideline E

What the Board reviewed

Judge mis-weighed or ignored evidence — raised by the applicantRejected
Applicant argued that the Judge did not give sufficient weight to his mitigating evidence.

Why the Board ruled this way

The Board found that the Judge's decision was supported by substantial evidence and that the applicant's arguments did not demonstrate harmful error. The Judge reasonably weighed the evidence and concluded that the applicant's financial issues were ongoing and serious.

Standard of review applied

Harmful-error gatekeeperSubstantial-evidence reviewArbitrary-and-capricious reviewProcedural complianceNo de-novo re-decisionNo new evidence on appealDeference to the judge’s credibility calls

Appeal Board panel

Jean E. Smallin
William S. Fields
James E. Moody

Descriptive structured reading of this decided, public Appeal Board decision — what the case says, not a prediction or advice.

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

SYNOPSIS

KEYWORD: Guideline F, Guideline E DIGEST: The mere presence of some mitigating evidence does not alone compel a favorable security clearance decision. Adverse decision affirmed. CASENO: 06-25157.a1 DATE: 04/04/2008 DATE: April 4, 2008 In Re: --------- Applicant for Security Clearance ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ISCR Case No. 06-25157

APPEAL BOARD DECISION

APPEARANCES

FOR GOVERNMENT James B. Norman, Esq., Chief Department Counsel FOR APPLICANT Pro Se The Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) declined to grant Applicant a security clearance. On March 16, 2007, DOHA issued a statement of reasons (SOR) advising Applicant of the basis for that decision—security concerns raised under Guideline F (Financial Considerations) and Guideline E (Personal Conduct) of Department of Defense Directive 5220.6 (Jan. 2, 1992, as amended) (Directive). Applicant requested a hearing. On December 20, 2007, after the hearing, Administrative Judge Paul J. Mason denied Applicant’s request for a security clearance. Applicant timely appealed pursuant to the Directive ¶¶ E3.1.28 and E3.1.30. Applicant raised the following issue on appeal: whether the Judge erred by concluding that the security concerns raised under Guidelines F and E had not been mitigated. Applicant argues that the Judge’s adverse decision should be reversed because the Judge did not give sufficient weight to Applicant’s mitigating evidence, including his assertions that he was unaware of his outstanding indebtedness and that he subsequently made efforts to remedy his financial problems. In that regard, Applicant takes issue with the fact that the Judge’s Formal Findings did not give him credit for twelve of eighteen debts he had paid off and that two additional debts involved the same account. Applicant’s arguments do not establish the Judge erred. As part of his brief, Applicant attaches documentary evidence which he submitted to the Judge and also new documentary evidence which indicates that he has now paid off a significant amount of his outstanding debt, including $28,951 owed to the Internal Revenue Service. The Board may not consider the new evidence on appeal. See Directive ¶ E3.1.29. It was not before the Judge and, therefore, does not demonstrate error on the part of the Judge. See, e.g., ISCR Case No. 06- 00799 at 2 (App. Bd. Apr. 16, 2007). Once the government presents evidence raising security concerns, the burden shifts to the applicant to establish mitigation. However, the presence of some mitigating evidence does not alone compel the Judge to make a favorable security clearance decision. As the trier of fact, the Judge has to weigh the evidence as a whole and decide whether the favorable evidence outweighs the unfavorable evidence, or vice versa. See, e.g., ISCR Case No. 06-10320 at 2 (App. Bd. Nov. 7, 2007). An applicant’s disagreement with the Judge’s weighing of the evidence, or an ability to argue for a different interpretation of the evidence, is not sufficient to demonstrate the Judge weighed the evidence or reached conclusions in a manner that is arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to law. See, e.g., ISCR Case No. 06-17409 at 3 (App. Bd. Oct. 12, 2007). In this case, the Judge made sustainable findings that Applicant had a lengthy and serious history of not meeting financial obligations and had provided false information about his indebtedness in response to two different questions on his security clearance application. At the time of the hearing, Applicant still had a significant amount of overdue indebtedness that he was trying to clear up. In light of the foregoing, the Judge could reasonably conclude that Applicant’s financial problems were still ongoing. See, e.g., ISCR Case No. 05-07747 at 2 (App. Bd. Jul. 3, 2007). The Judge weighed the mitigating evidence offered by Applicant against the length and seriousness of the disqualifying conduct and considered the possible application of relevant mitigating conditions. The Judge found in favor of Applicant as to a number of the SOR allegations. However, the Judge reasonably explained why the evidence which Applicant had presented in mitigation was insufficient to overcome the government’s security concerns. The Board does not review a case de novo. The favorable record evidence cited by Applicant is not sufficient to demonstrate the Judge’s decision is arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to law. See, e.g., ISCR Case No. 06-11172 at 2 (App. Bd. Sep. 4, 2007). Given the record that was before him, the Judge’s ultimate unfavorable security clearance decision under Guidelines F and E is sustainable.

ORDER

The decision of the Judge denying Applicant a security clearance is AFFIRMED. Signed: Jean E. Smallin Jean E. Smallin Administrative Judge Member, Appeal Board Signed: William S. Fields William S. Fields Administrative Judge Member, Appeal Board Signed: James E. Moody James E. Moody Administrative Judge Member, Appeal Board