Summary
A 44-year-old U.S. citizen, originally from Djibouti, was denied a security clearance under Guideline B (Foreign Influence) and Guideline E (Personal Conduct). The denial stemmed from the applicant's failure to disclose numerous family members on his April 2017 security clearance application and a history of threatening behavior.
Specifically, the applicant did not disclose two brothers and six sisters. His family includes a retired Djiboutian congressman father, a brother employed by the UN office of West Africa, and another brother who is a colonel in the Djiboutian Army. Additionally, two sisters work for a Djiboutian government agency, another is a former Djiboutian congresswoman, and a third is CEO of a major Djiboutian cable channel. Three brothers-in-law also hold significant positions: a former Djiboutian ambassador, a counselor to a Djiboutian ministry, and a retired Djiboutian cabinet member.
The applicant's personal conduct issues included sending threatening texts and voice messages to a classmate in December 2015, which led to criminal charges. The judge found the applicant's testimony not credible, concluding that the undisclosed family ties created a potential for foreign influence, and the deceptive omissions and threatening behavior demonstrated a lack of reliability and trustworthiness. The security clearance was denied.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant failed to disclose multiple siblings on his security clearance application, which was deemed intentional and deceptive.
- The applicant's history of threatening behavior resulted in criminal charges and demonstrated questionable judgment and untrustworthiness.
- The applicant's connections to influential family members in Djibouti created a potential conflict of interest and risk of foreign exploitation.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 16(a)appliedDeliberate Omission, Concealment, or Falsification of Relevant Facts
- AG ¶ 16(c)appliedCredible Adverse Information in Several Adjudicative Issue Areas
- AG ¶ 7(a)raisedContact with a Foreign Family Member That Creates a Heightened Risk of Foreign Exploitation
- AG ¶ 7(b)raisedConnections to a Foreign Person That Create a Potential Conflict of Interest
Key Rule Quoted
“The protection of the national security is the paramount consideration.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedOct 25, 2018
- Answer filedApr 16, 2019
- Hearing heldSep 25, 2019rescheduled due to applicant's absence on original date
- Decision dateDec 9, 2019
Cite For
- Failure to Disclose Family Ties Under Guideline B
- Impact of Criminal Behavior on Security Clearance Eligibility
- Credibility Issues Affecting Personal Conduct Assessments