Summary
A 25-year-old male applicant with a bachelor's degree was denied a security clearance under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) due to extensive drug use and the falsification of information on security clearance applications. The Statement of Reasons detailed the applicant's use and purchase of marijuana from approximately December 2011 to at least November 2016, non-medicinal codeine use in about August 2015, multiple instances of cocaine use from approximately October 2013 to at least January 2015, and multiple uses of "spice" (synthetic marijuana).
Furthermore, the applicant was found to have falsified his security clearance applications. In March 2017, he failed to disclose drug use other than marijuana within the last seven years, and in June 2016, he failed to disclose his overall drug use, including marijuana. He also deliberately provided false information to his employer regarding his drug use history in 2016 and 2017.
The denial was based on the applicant's admitted extensive drug use, which continued after completing his applications, and his intentional falsification of information on two security clearance applications. These actions created a vulnerability to exploitation and raised significant doubts about his reliability and trustworthiness, leading to the judge's decision to deny the security clearance.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant admitted to extensive drug use, including marijuana, cocaine, and other substances, which occurred after he completed his security clearance applications.
- The applicant intentionally falsified information on two security clearance applications regarding his drug use history.
- The applicant's actions created a vulnerability to exploitation and raised doubts about his reliability and trustworthiness.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 16(a)appliedDeliberate Omission, Concealment, or Falsification of Relevant Facts
- AG ¶ 16(b)appliedDeliberately Providing False or Misleading Information
- AG ¶ 16(e)appliedPersonal Conduct Creating Vulnerability to Exploitation
Key Rule Quoted
“Conduct involving questionable judgment, lack of candor, dishonesty, or unwillingness to comply with rules and regulations can raise questions about an individual's reliability, trustworthiness and ability to protect classified or sensitive information.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedApr 2, 2019
- Answer filedMay 25, 2019
- Hearing heldSep 25, 2019
- Decision dateNov 20, 2019
Cite For
- Denial of Security Clearance Due to Extensive Drug Use Under Guideline E
- Falsification of Information on Security Clearance Applications as a Disqualifying Factor
- Impact of Personal Conduct on Reliability and Trustworthiness Assessments