Summary
A 56-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran and government contractor was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline B (Foreign Influence) and Guideline E (Personal Conduct). The applicant maintained a personal and online relationship with a Lebanese citizen and resident from approximately 1989 until at least March 2017. This relationship was not fully disclosed to his wife or to appropriate security officials.
Specifically, the applicant failed to report his close and continuing contact with the foreign national on his December 2011 and May 2016 security clearance applications. He also deliberately omitted listing the individual as a foreign contact and did not disclose personal foreign travel on his 2016 application. While the applicant did not have a duty to report travel to Lebanon to visit the foreign national while deployed to Afghanistan, the deliberate omissions on his applications were significant.
The denial was based on the applicant's secret relationship with a foreign national, which raised foreign influence concerns, and his failure to disclose this relationship and related travel on security clearance applications, indicating a lack of candor. The judge found the applicant's conflicting statements about the relationship's nature and duration undermined his credibility, leading to the denial despite some mitigating factors.
Why the applicant was denied
- The applicant maintained a secret relationship with a foreign national from Lebanon, raising concerns of foreign influence.
- The applicant failed to disclose this relationship and related travel on security clearance applications, demonstrating a lack of candor.
- The applicant's conflicting statements about the nature and duration of the relationship undermined his credibility.
Conditions referenced
- AG ¶ 7(a)raisedForeign Influence - Contact with Foreign National
- AG ¶ 7(b)raisedForeign Influence - Potential Conflict of Interest
- AG ¶ 16(a)raisedPersonal Conduct - Deliberate Omission or Concealment
- AG ¶ 16(c)raisedPersonal Conduct - Credible Adverse Information
- AG ¶ 16(e)raisedPersonal Conduct - Vulnerability to Exploitation
- AG ¶ 8(a)rejectedForeign Influence - Nature of RelationshipsThe applicant's relationship with the foreign national created a heightened risk of foreign exploitation.
- AG ¶ 8(b)rejectedForeign Influence - No Conflict of InterestThe applicant's ties to the U.S. were insufficient to mitigate the risks posed by the relationship.
- AG ¶ 17(a)rejectedPersonal Conduct - Prompt Good-faith Efforts to CorrectThe applicant did not demonstrate prompt efforts to correct omissions before being confronted.
Key rule quoted
“The protection of the national security is the paramount consideration.”
Procedural posture
- SOR issuedMar 29, 2018
- Answer filedApr 19, 2018
- Hearing heldJun 3, 2019Postponed at the request of Applicant’s counsel.
- Decision dateJul 12, 2019
Cite for
- Denial of Security Clearance Due to Undisclosed Foreign Relationships Under Guideline B
- Lack of Candor in Security Clearance Applications Under Guideline E
- Impact of Foreign Influence on National Security Considerations.