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ISCR Case 19-02454 — CASE

ISCR Case 19-02454denied

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 19-02454

deniedFeb 11, 2020· Hon. Robert Robinson Gales· hearing

Summary

A 45-year-old defense contractor employee was denied a security clearance under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline H (Drug Involvement). The denial stemmed from the applicant's admitted extensive marijuana use over 25 years and the falsification of his security clearance application.

The Statement of Reasons alleged that the applicant intentionally concealed much of his substance misuse and falsified his responses, identifying marijuana as his substance of choice for recreational abuse. Disqualifying conditions under Adjudicative Guidelines Paragraphs 25(a), 16(a), and 16(e) were raised.

The denial was based on the applicant's admission of over two decades of recreational marijuana use, with the last reported use in May 2019. Furthermore, the applicant falsified information on his security clearance application by omitting significant drug use history. These actions led the judge to conclude that the applicant's reliability and trustworthiness were substantially compromised, resulting in the denial of his clearance request.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant admitted to over two decades of recreational marijuana use, with the last use occurring in May 2019.
The applicant falsified information on his security clearance application by omitting significant drug use history.
The applicant's actions raised substantial questions about his reliability and trustworthiness.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 25(a)appliedSubstance Misuse
AG ¶ 16(a)appliedDeliberate Omission or Falsification
AG ¶ 16(e)appliedPersonal Conduct Creating Vulnerability

Key Rule Quoted

“"A person who seeks access to classified information enters into a fiduciary relationship with the Government predicated upon trust and confidence."”
— Department of the Navy v. Egan, 484 U.S. 518, 528 (1988)

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedOct 4, 2019
Answer filedOct 23, 2019Applicant elected to have the case decided on the written record.
Hearing held—No hearing was held; decision made on the written record.
Decision dateFeb 11, 2020

Cite For

Denial of Security Clearance Due to Extensive Drug Involvement Under Guideline H
Falsification of Security Clearance Application Under Guideline E
Significant Questions About Reliability and Trustworthiness Due to Past Conduct

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

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline E (Personal Conduct) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: Decision on RecordDecided: denied

The judge found against the applicant on the personal conduct allegations, specifically regarding the intentional concealment of substance misuse and falsification of responses on the security questionnaire. The applicant's admissions and the evidence presented led to substantial doubts about his eligibility for a security clearance, resulting in a denied outcome.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Conduct	Concealed Issue	Response	Disqualifying (¶16)	Mitigating applied (¶17)	Mitigation
2.a	Applicant intentionally concealed much of his substance misuse and falsified his responses.	Against Applicant	Falsification Security FormFOUND DELIBERATE	Drug Involvement	Admitted	(a) deliberate omission, concealment, or falsification on a security form (e) personal conduct or concealment creating vulnerability to exploitation	—	—

Descriptive standardized rendering of a decided public case (Guideline E). The verbatim source decision is shown in full below.

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline H (Drug Involvement) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: Decision on RecordDecided: denied

The judge found that the applicant was a recreational substance abuser whose substance of choice was marijuana, using it on nine or ten occasions over a period of more than two and a half decades, with the last use reported as recently as May 2019. The judge ruled against the applicant on the drug involvement allegations, concluding that the applicant failed to mitigate the security concerns related to his substance abuse.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Substance / event	Use level	Response	Disqualifying (¶25)	Mitigating applied (¶26)	Mitigation
2.a	Applicant was a recreational substance abuser whose substance of choice was marijuana.	Against Applicant	Marijuana	Frequent	Admitted	—	—	—

Descriptive standardized rendering of a decided public case (Guideline H). The verbatim source decision is shown in full below.

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

HEARING

APPEARANCES

______________ ______________ DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEFENSE OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS In the matter of: ) ) --- ) ISCR Case No. 19-02454 ) Applicant for Security Clearance ) Appearances For Government: Carroll J. Connelley, Esquire, Department Counsel For Applicant: Pro se 02/11/2020

STATEMENT OF CASE

GALES, Robert Robinson, Administrative Judge: Applicant failed to mitigate the security concerns regarding drug involvement and substance misuse and personal conduct. Eligibility for a security clearance is denied. Statement of the Case On February 20, 2019, Applicant applied for a security clearance and submitted a Questionnaire For National Security Positions (SF 86). On an unspecified date, the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) issued a set of interrogatories to him. He answered those interrogatories on August 22, 2019. On October 4, 2019, the Department of Defense (DOD) Consolidated Adjudications Facility (CAF) issued a Statement of Reasons (SOR) to him, under Executive Order (Exec. Or.) 10865, Safeguarding Classified Information within Industry (February 20, 1960), as amended and modified; DOD Directive 5220.6, Defense Industrial Personnel Security Clearance Review Program (January 2, 1992), as amended and modified (Directive); and Directive 4 of the Security Executive Agent (SEAD 4), National Security Adjudicative Guidelines (AG) (December 10, 2016) for all covered individuals who require initial or continued eligibility for access to classified information or eligibility to hold a sensitive position, effective June 8, 2017.

The SOR alleged security concerns under Guidelines H (Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse) and E (Personal Conduct) and detailed reasons why the DOD adjudicators were unable to find that it is clearly consistent with the national interest to grant or continue a security clearance for Applicant. The SOR recommended referral to an administrative judge to determine whether a clearance should be granted, continued, denied, or revoked.

In a sworn statement, dated October 23, 2019, Applicant responded to the SOR and elected to have his case decided on the written record in lieu of a hearing. A complete copy of the Government’s file of relevant material (FORM) was mailed to Applicant by DOHA on November 26, 2019, and he was afforded an opportunity, within a period of 30 days, to file objections and submit material in refutation, extenuation, or mitigation. In addition to the FORM, Applicant was furnished a copy of the Directive as well as the Adjudicative Guidelines applicable to his case. Applicant received the FORM on December 3, 2019. His response was due on January 2, 2020. Applicant chose not to respond to the FORM, for as of January 29, 2020, no response had been received. The case was assigned to me on January 29, 2020. The record closed on January 29, 2020.

FINDINGS OF FACT

In his Answer to the SOR, Applicant admitted, without any comments, the factual allegations pertaining to drug involvement and substance misuse (SOR ¶ 1.a.) and personal conduct (SOR ¶ 2.a.). Applicant’s admissions are incorporated herein as findings of fact. After a complete and thorough review of the evidence in the record, and upon due consideration of same, I make the following additional findings of fact:

Background

Applicant is a 45-year-old employee of a defense contractor. He has been serving as a rigger with his current employer since February 2019. He previously served in a variety of relatively short-term positions with other employers such as an account manager, part-time security guard, dock supervisor, sanitation manager, and inventory manager. He is a 1993 high school graduate, and received a bachelor’s degree in 2010. He has never served with the U.S. military. He has never been granted a security clearance. Applicant was married in 1999. He has three children, born in 2000, 2002, and 2012.

Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse

Applicant was a recreational substance abuser whose substance of choice was marijuana – a Schedule I Controlled Substance. He used marijuana, with varying frequency, from about 1994 until at least May 2019, for a period of over two and one-half decades. He reported that he initially took a few puffs of a marijuana cigarette provided to him at a college party out of curiosity. Thereafter, on approximately nine or ten occasions, he smoked marijuana in cigarettes or a pipe with an identified friend (who was a listed reference) and other unidentified individuals. He smoked marijuana at golf tournaments in 2018 and as recently as May 2019. He does not recall who furnished him

the marijuana he smoked. Using marijuana caused him to feel tired. He has never received any counselling or treatment for his use of marijuana. In July 2019, he claimed he had no intention of using marijuana in the future. (Item 3 – Triggered Enhanced Subject Interview, dated July 9, 2019, at 4-5)

Personal Conduct

On February 20, 2019, when Applicant completed his SF 86, he responded to certain questions pertaining to his illegal use of drugs or drug activity found in Section 23 – Illegal Use of Drugs or Drug Activity. The most significant questions, and the ones alleged in the SOR, were essentially as follows:

Applicant was asked if, in the last seven (7) years, he had illegally used any drugs or controlled substances. Applicant answered “yes” to the question, and he added that he had smoked marijuana twice with friends in May 2015 and April 2018. He omitted his other marijuana use. The follow-up question was if he intended to use any illegal drugs in the future, and he responded: “No” and he added “I did not enjoy its effects, I do not wish to spend money on it, I . . . feel using illegal drugs will not be beneficial to my career.” (Item 2 – SF 86, dated February 20, 2019, at 39-40) His declared future intentions were false because he continued using marijuana after he submitted the SF 86. He certified that his responses to those questions were “true, complete, and correct” to the best of his knowledge and belief. In fact, because of his omissions and concealments, the responses to those questions were, in fact, false.

On March 6, 2019, Applicant underwent an interview with an investigator from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). In response to inquiries regarding his involvement with illegal drugs, Applicant presented a more thorough history of his drug involvement. He also explained that a significant portion of his history of drug involvement was omitted because he did not want his employer to know about his actual use of marijuana. (Item 3, at 5)

POLICIES

The U.S. Supreme Court has recognized the substantial discretion of the Executive Branch in regulating access to information pertaining to national security emphasizing, “no one has a ‘right’ to a security clearance.” (Department of the Navy v. Egan, 484 U.S. 518, 528 (1988)) As Commander in Chief, the President has the authority to control access to information bearing on national security and to determine whether an individual is sufficiently trustworthy to have access to such information. The President has authorized the Secretary of Defense or his designee to grant an applicant eligibility for access to classified information “only upon a finding that it is clearly consistent with the national interest to do so.” (Exec. Or. 10865, Safeguarding Classified Information within Industry § 2 (Feb. 20, 1960), as amended and modified.)

When evaluating an applicant’s suitability for a security clearance, the administrative judge must consider the guidelines in SEAD 4. In addition to brief introductory explanations for each guideline, the guidelines list potentially disqualifying

conditions and mitigating conditions, which are used in evaluating an applicant’s eligibility for access to classified information.

An administrative judge need not view the guidelines as inflexible, ironclad rules of law. Instead, acknowledging the complexities of human behavior, these guidelines are applied in conjunction with the factors listed in the adjudicative process. The administrative judge’s overarching adjudicative goal is a fair, impartial, and commonsense decision. The entire process is a conscientious scrutiny of a number of variables known as the “whole-person concept.” The administrative judge must consider all available, reliable information about the person, past and present, favorable and unfavorable, in making a meaningful decision.

In the decision-making process, facts must be established by “substantial evidence.” “Substantial evidence [is] such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion in light of all contrary evidence in the record.” (ISCR Case No. 04-11463 at 2 (App. Bd. Aug. 4, 2006) (citing Directive ¶ E3.1.32.1)). “Substantial evidence” is “more than a scintilla but less than a preponderance.” (See v. Washington Metro. Area Transit Auth., 36 F.3d 375, 380 (4th Cir. 1994).)

The Government initially has the burden of producing evidence to establish a potentially disqualifying condition under the Directive, and has the burden of establishing controverted facts alleged in the SOR. Once the Government has produced substantial evidence of a disqualifying condition, under Directive ¶ E3.1.15, the applicant has the burden of persuasion to present evidence in refutation, explanation, extenuation or mitigation, sufficient to overcome the doubts raised by the Government’s case. The burden of disproving a mitigating condition never shifts to the Government. (See ISCR Case No. 02-31154 at 5 (App. Bd. Sep. 22, 2005).)

A person who seeks access to classified information enters into a fiduciary relationship with the Government predicated upon trust and confidence. This relationship transcends normal duty hours and endures throughout off-duty hours as well. It is because of this special relationship that the Government must be able to repose a high degree of trust and confidence in those individuals to whom it grants access to classified information. Decisions include, by necessity, consideration of the possible risk the applicant may deliberately or inadvertently fail to safeguard classified information. Such decisions entail a certain degree of legally permissible extrapolation as to potential, rather than actual, risk of compromise of classified information. Furthermore, “security clearance determinations should err, if they must, on the side of denials.” (Egan, 484 U.S. at 531)

Clearance decisions must be “in terms of the national interest and shall in no sense be a determination as to the loyalty of the applicant concerned.” (See Exec. Or. 10865 § 7) Thus, nothing in this decision should be construed to suggest that I have based this decision, in whole or in part, on any express or implied determination as to Applicant’s allegiance, loyalty, or patriotism. It is merely an indication the Applicant has or has not met the strict guidelines the President and the Secretary of Defense have established for issuing a clearance. In reaching this decision, I have drawn only those conclusions that

are reasonable, logical, and based on the evidence contained in the record. Likewise, I have avoided drawing inferences grounded on mere speculation or conjecture.

ANALYSIS

Guideline H, Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse

The security concern relating to the guideline for Drug Involvement and Substance Abuse is set out in AG ¶ 24:

The illegal use of controlled substances, to include the misuse of prescription and non-prescription drugs, and the use of other substances that cause physical or mental impairment or are used in a manner inconsistent with their intended purpose can raise questions about an individual's reliability and trustworthiness, both because such behavior may lead to physical or psychological impairment and because it raises questions about a person's ability or willingness to comply with laws, rules, and regulations. Controlled substance means any "controlled substance" as defined in 21 U.S.C. 802. Substance misuse is the generic term adopted in this guideline to describe any of the behaviors listed above.

Furthermore, on October 25, 2014, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) issued Memorandum ES 2014-00674, Adherence to Federal Laws Prohibiting Marijuana Use, which states:

[C]hanges to state laws and the laws of the District of Columbia pertaining to marijuana use do not alter the existing National Security Adjudicative Guidelines (Reference H and I). An individual's disregard of federal law pertaining to the use, sale, or manufacture of marijuana remains adjudicatively relevant in national security determinations. As always, adjudicative authorities are expected to evaluate claimed or developed use of, or involvement with, marijuana using the current adjudicative criteria. The adjudicative authority must determine if the use of, or involvement with, marijuana raises questions about the individual's judgment, reliability, trustworthiness, and willingness to comply with law, rules, and regulations, including federal laws, when making eligibility decisions of persons proposed for, or occupying, sensitive national security positions.

The guideline notes some conditions under AG ¶ 25 that could raise security concerns in this case:

(a) any substance misuse (see above definition); and

(c) illegal possession of a controlled substance, including cultivation, processing, manufacture, purchase, sale, or distribution; or possession of drug paraphernalia.

Applicant was admittedly a recreational substance abuser. He possessed and used marijuana, a controlled substance, with varying frequency, on nine or ten occasions during a period of over two and one-half decades, reportedly ending as recently as May 2019. He claimed that he generally used marijuana at parties or when he was at golf tournaments with others who were also smoking it. AG ¶ 25(a) has been established.

The guideline also includes examples of conditions under AG ¶ 26 that could mitigate security concerns arising from Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse:

(a) the behavior happened so long ago, was so infrequent, or happened under such circumstances that it is unlikely to recur or does not cast doubt on the individual's current reliability, trustworthiness, or good judgment; and

(b) the individual acknowledges his or her drug involvement and substance misuse, provides evidence of actions taken to overcome this problem, and has established a pattern of abstinence, including, but not limited to: (1) disassociation from drug-using associates and contacts; (2) changing or avoiding the environment where drugs were used; and (3) providing a signed statement of intent to abstain from all drug involvement and substance misuse, acknowledging that any future involvement or misuse is grounds for revocation of national security eligibility.

Neither condition applies. Applicant used marijuana for over two and one-half decades, reportedly ending as recently as May 2019. There was nothing infrequent about his marijuana use, and there is no evidence to indicate that it happened under such circumstances that it was unlikely to recur. In fact, even after he acknowledged in his SF 86 that he had used it on only two earlier occasions, he continued using marijuana for several more months. While he now acknowledges his past drug involvement, he has actually been abstinent for only a mere eight months. Also, although he now claims to have no intention of future drug involvement, he stated the same intention in his February 2019 SF 86, and he broke that pledge with continued marijuana use.

A person should not be held forever accountable for misconduct from the past, but in this instance, after over two and one-half decades of marijuana use, the most recent drug involvement and substance misuse was in May 2019. Continued abstinence is to be encouraged, but the relatively brief period of such abstinence is in stark contrast to the lengthy decades-old period of marijuana use, and is considered insufficient to conclude that the abstinence will continue. Given Applicant’s cavalier attitude towards laws, rules, and regulations, his use of marijuana, despite knowing that such use was prohibited by both the Government and his employer, continues to cast doubt on his current reliability, trustworthiness, and good judgment.

Guideline E, Personal Conduct

The security concern relating to the guideline for Personal Conduct is set out in AG ¶ 15:

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. Of special interest is any failure to cooperate or provide truthful and candid answers during national security investigative or adjudicative processes. The following will normally result in an unfavorable national security eligibility determination, security clearance action, or cancellation of further processing for national security eligibility:

(a) refusal, or failure without reasonable cause, to undergo or cooperate with security processing, including but not limited to meeting with a security investigator for subject interview, completing security forms or releases, cooperation with medical or psychological evaluation, or polygraph examination, if authorized and required; and

(b) refusal to provide full, frank, and truthful answers to lawful questions of investigators, security officials, or other official representatives in connection with a personnel security or trustworthiness determination.

The guideline also includes examples of conditions that could raise security concerns under AG ¶ 16:

(a) deliberate omission, concealment, or falsification of relevant facts from any personnel security questionnaire, personal history statement, or similar form used to conduct investigations, determine employment qualifications, award benefits or status, determine national security eligibility or trustworthiness, or award fiduciary responsibilities; and

(e) personal conduct, or concealment of information about one's conduct, that creates a vulnerability to exploitation, manipulation, or duress by a foreign intelligence entity or other individual or group. Such conduct includes: (1) engaging in activities which, if known, could affect the person's personal, professional, or community standing. . . .

My discussions related to Applicant’s drug involvement and substance misuse are adopted herein. At the time Applicant completed his SF 86 in February 2019, he merely acknowledged two incidents of marijuana use, and he intentionally concealed any references to his far more lengthy history of drug involvement and substance misuse. When he was subsequently interviewed by an OPM investigator, he finally opened up about the truth of his lengthy history of marijuana use. He explained that he was essentially fearful that such information might have a negative impact on his employment, so he did not want his employer to know about his actual use of marijuana.

I have considered the entire record, including Applicant’s admissions of the SOR allegations. Applicant did not controvert the falsification allegations. In other words, he intentionally concealed much of his substance misuse and falsified his responses. As to the deliberate falsifications on the 2019 SF 86 regarding his drug activity, AG ¶¶ 16(a)

and 16(e) have been established. With respect to Applicant’s continued use of marijuana after he declared an intention not to do so, AG ¶ 16(e) has been established.

The guideline also includes examples of conditions under AG ¶ 17 that could mitigate security concerns arising from personal conduct. They include:

(a) the individual made prompt, good-faith efforts to correct the omission, concealment, or falsification before being confronted with the facts; and

(c) the offense is so minor, or so much time has passed, or the behavior is so infrequent, or it happened under such unique circumstances that it is unlikely to recur and does not cast doubt on the individual's reliability, trustworthiness, or good judgment.

Neither of the conditions apply. Applicant’s false responses to the SF 86 inquiries occurred in February 2019, and he finally told the truth to the OPM investigator in July 2019. Before that interview, he made no efforts to correct the omissions, concealments, or falsifications associated with his SF 86. Applicant’s refusal to comply with laws, rules, and regulations, as well as with employment rules and policies, lasted over two and one- half decades. Despite his claimed new compliance with all of the above, Applicant’s actions under the circumstances continue to cast doubt on his current reliability, trustworthiness, and good judgment.

WHOLE PERSON CONCEPT

Under the whole-person concept, the administrative judge must evaluate an applicant’s eligibility for a security clearance by considering the totality of the applicant’s conduct and all the circumstances. The administrative judge should consider the nine adjudicative process factors listed at SEAD 4, App. A, ¶ 2(d):

(1) the nature, extent, and seriousness of the conduct; (2) the circumstances surrounding the conduct, to include knowledgeable participation; (3) the frequency and recency of the conduct; (4) the individual’s age and maturity at the time of the conduct; (5) the extent to which participation is voluntary; (6) the presence or absence of rehabilitation and other permanent behavioral changes; (7) the motivation for the conduct; (8) the potential for pressure, coercion, exploitation, or duress; and (9) the likelihood of continuation or recurrence.

Under SEAD 4, App. A, ¶ 2(c), the ultimate determination of whether to grant a security clearance must be an overall commonsense judgment based upon careful consideration of the guidelines and the whole-person concept. Moreover, I have evaluated the various aspects of this case in light of the totality of the record evidence and have not merely performed a piecemeal analysis. (See U.S. v. Bottone, 365 F.2d 389, 392 (2d Cir. 1966); See also ISCR Case No. 03-22861 at 2-3 (App. Bd. Jun. 2, 2006))

There is some evidence mitigating Applicant’s conduct. Applicant is a 45-year-old employee of a defense contractor. He has been serving as a rigger with his current employer since February 2019. He previously served in a variety of relatively short-term positions with other employers. He is a 1993 high school graduate, and received a bachelor’s degree in 2010. He finally confessed to the OPM investigator in July 2019 that he had previously used marijuana more often than he had previously reported in his SF 86; that he has not used marijuana since May 2019; and that he no longer intends to use it in the future.

The disqualifying evidence under the whole-person concept is more substantial. Applicant used marijuana, a controlled substance, with varying frequency, from about 1994 until at least May 2019, generally at parties or when he was at golf tournaments with others who were also smoking it. When he completed his SF 86, he reported that he had used marijuana on only two occasions, and that he had no intentions of using it in the future. However, he continued using marijuana for several more months. While he now acknowledges his past drug involvement, he has been abstinent for only a mere eight months. Although he now claims to have no intention of future drug involvement, he stated that same intention in February 2019, and he broke that pledge with continued marijuana use. Thus, the significance of that newer pledge is greatly reduced. Applicant has never received treatment and counseling as a result of his illegal use of controlled substances.

Overall, the evidence leaves me with substantial questions and doubts as to Applicant’s eligibility and suitability for a security clearance. For all of these reasons, I conclude Applicant has failed to mitigate the security concerns arising from his drug involvement and substance abuse; and personal conduct. See SEAD 4, App. A, ¶¶ 2(d)(1) through AG 2(d)(9).

FORMAL FINDINGS

Formal findings for or against Applicant on the allegations set forth in the SOR, as required by section E3.1.25 of Enclosure 3 of the Directive, are:

Paragraph 1, Guideline E:

AGAINST APPLICANT

Subparagraph 1.a.:

Against Applicant

Paragraph 2, Guideline H:

AGAINST APPLICANT

Subparagraph 2.a.:

Against Applicant

CONCLUSION

In light of all of the circumstances presented by the record in this case, it is not clearly consistent with the national interest to grant Applicant eligibility for a security clearance. Eligibility for access to classified information is denied.

__________________________ ROBERT ROBINSON GALES Administrative Judge