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ISCR 20-03291: Guideline H security clearance hearing, denied (2021) · CASE

ISCR Case 20-03291denied

Case headnote

ISCR Case No. 20-03291

deniedJul 20, 2021· Hon. Wilford H. Ross· hearing

Summary

A 30-year-old software developer was denied a security clearance under Guideline H (Drug Involvement) due to her admitted, ongoing marijuana use. The Statement of Reasons included two allegations: that she had used marijuana daily, with some breaks, since approximately 2014, and that she intended to continue this level of use.

The judge found that the applicant's daily marijuana use since 2014 demonstrated a lack of compliance with federal drug laws. Furthermore, her stated intent to continue using marijuana at the same level raised concerns regarding her reliability and trustworthiness.

Despite the applicant's claims of responsible and therapeutic use, the judge determined that her actions were inconsistent with national security eligibility. No mitigating conditions were found to apply, leading to a formal denial of her security clearance.

Why the applicant was denied

The applicant admitted to daily marijuana use since 2014, indicating a lack of compliance with federal laws regarding drug use.
The applicant expressed intent to continue marijuana use, which raised concerns about her reliability and trustworthiness.
The judge found that none of the mitigating conditions applied to the applicant's case.

Conditions referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 25(a)raisedAny Substance Misuse
AG ¶ 25(g)raisedExpressed Intent to Continue Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse

Key rule quoted

“The illegal use of controlled substances... 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.”

Procedural posture

SOR issuedFeb 3, 2021
Answer filedMar 3, 2021Applicant requested decision on written record.
Hearing held—Decision based on written record.
Decision dateJul 20, 2021

Cite for

Denial of Security Clearance Due to Ongoing Illegal Drug Use Under Guideline H
Importance of Compliance with Federal Drug Laws in Security Clearance Determinations
Lack of Mitigating Conditions for Ongoing Substance Misuse

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

From the decision

Facts this decision states, each with the exact sentence it comes from. Descriptive of the record, not an assessment.

Age at decision: 30: “Applicant is a 30-year-old employee of a defense contractor, where she works as an associate software developer.”

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 has used marijuana daily since approximately 2014 and stated an intention to continue this use. The judge ruled against the applicant on both allegations, concluding that the applicant did not meet the burden of persuasion to mitigate the security concerns related to her drug involvement. Consequently, the applicant's eligibility for a security clearance was denied.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Substance / event	Use level	Response	Disqualifying (¶25)	Mitigating applied (¶26)	Mitigation

Descriptive standardized rendering of a decided public case. 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. 20-03291 ) ) Applicant for Security Clearance ) Appearances For Government: Rhett Petcher, Esquire, Department Counsel For Applicant: Pro se July 20, 2021

STATEMENT OF CASE

ROSS, Wilford H., Administrative Judge: Statement of the Case Applicant submitted her Electronic Questionnaire for Investigations Processing (e- QIP) on April 21, 2020. (Item 2.) On February 3, 2021, the Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF) issued a Statement of Reasons (SOR) to Applicant, detailing security concerns under Guideline H (Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse). (Item 1.) The action was taken under Executive Order 10865, Safeguarding Classified Information Within Industry (February 20, 1960), as amended; Department of Defense Directive 5220.6, Defense Industrial Personnel Security Clearance Review Program (January 2, 1992), as amended (Directive); and the National Security Adjudicative Guidelines for Determining Eligibility for Access to Classified Information or Eligibility to Hold a Sensitive Position, effective within the Department of Defense on June 8, 2017.

Applicant answered the SOR in writing (Answer) on March 3, 2021, and requested her case be decided on the written record in lieu of a hearing. (Item 1.) In her Answer she admitted both allegations in the SOR, with explanations. On March 26, 2021, Department Counsel submitted the Department's written case. A complete copy of the file of relevant material (FORM), consisting of Items 1 to 3, was provided to Applicant, who received the file on April 1, 2021. Applicant was given 30 days from receipt of the FORM to file objections and submit material in refutation, extenuation, or mitigation. Applicant submitted additional information that is marked Applicant Exhibit A and entered into evidence without objection. The case was assigned to me on June 11, 2021. Based upon a review of the pleadings and exhibits, eligibility for access to classified information is denied.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Applicant is a 30-year-old employee of a defense contractor, where she works as an associate software developer. She has a Bachelor’s degree. She is seeking to obtain national security eligibility for a security clearance in connection with her employment in the Defense industry. (Government Exhibit 1 at Sections12 and 13A.) Paragraph 1 (Guideline H – Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse) The Government alleges in this paragraph that Applicant is ineligible for clearance due to her use of illegal drugs. Applicant admitted allegations 1.a and 1.bunder this paragraph. 1.a. Applicant has used marijuana on a daily basis, with some breaks, since approximately 2014. Applicant stated that she used marijuana in an attempt to relieve work-related stress. She stated in her Answer, “Marijuana allows me to manage my anxiety without hurting my ability to do good work.” (Item 3 at 4.) 1.b. Applicant stated that she intended to continue to use marijuana at the same level. Applicant stated that her marijuana use is responsible. She sees a therapist and has a state-issued medical marijuana card. Applicant argued that the Federal proscription on marijuana use is outdated. (Answer; Applicant Exhibit A.) MITIGATION Appellant submitted her resume and her most recent performance review. She is a talented software developer. Her manager stated, “[Applicant] has proven herself to be

a smart, capable, team player and hard worker.” The manager further stated that Applicant, “has exceeded expectations in tasks and deliverables she has worked on.”

POLICIES

When evaluating an applicant’s national security eligibility for a security clearance, the administrative judge must consider the adjudicative guidelines. In addition to brief introductory explanations for each guideline, the adjudicative guidelines (AG) list potentially disqualifying conditions and mitigating conditions, which are to be used in evaluating an applicant’s national security eligibility. These guidelines are not inflexible rules of law. Instead, recognizing the complexities of human behavior, these guidelines are applied in conjunction with the factors listed in AG ¶ 2 describing 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 applicable guidelines in the context 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 decision. The protection of the national security is the paramount consideration. AG ¶ 2(b) requires, “Any doubt concerning personnel being considered for national security eligibility will be resolved in favor of the national security.” In reaching this decision, I have drawn only those conclusions that are reasonable, logical, and based on the evidence contained in the record. I have not drawn inferences based on mere speculation or conjecture.

Directive ¶ E3.1.14, requires the Government to present evidence to establish controverted facts alleged in the SOR. Under Directive ¶ E3.1.15, “The applicant is responsible for presenting witnesses and other evidence to rebut, explain, extenuate, or mitigate facts admitted by the applicant or proven by Department Counsel, and has the ultimate burden of persuasion as to obtaining a favorable clearance decision.” 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. The Government reposes a high degree of trust and confidence in individuals to whom it grants national security eligibility. Decisions include, by necessity, consideration of the possible risk the applicant may deliberately or inadvertently fail to protect or safeguard classified information. Such decisions entail a certain degree of legally permissible extrapolation as to potential, rather than actual, risk of compromise of classified or sensitive information. Finally, as emphasized in Section 7 of Executive Order 10865, “Any determination under this order adverse to an applicant shall be a determination in terms of the national interest and shall in no sense be a determination as to the loyalty of the applicant concerned.”

See also Executive Order 12968, Section 3.1(b) (listing multiple prerequisites for access to classified or sensitive information.)

ANALYSIS

Paragraph 1 (Guideline H – Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse) The security concern relating to Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse is set forth 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. I have examined the disqualifying conditions under AG ¶ 25 and especially considered the following: (a) any substance misuse (see above definition); and (g) expressed intent to continue drug involvement and substance misuse, or failure to clearly and convincingly commit to discontinue such misuse. Applicant has a history of using illegal drugs. She has used marijuana on almost a daily basis since 2014. Applicant stated that she intends to continue to use marijuana since its use has helped her manage stress and anxiety. All three of the disqualifying conditions apply, thereby transferring the burden to Applicant to mitigate them. The following mitigating conditions under AG ¶ 26 have also been considered: (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. Applicant admitted her long-term use of marijuana and her intent to continue its use. She argued that the Federal government’s proscription is wrong and that granting her a clearance would be appropriate. The problem with Applicant’s argument is that the rules still apply and consistent marijuana use is viewed as being inconsistent with national security eligibility. (See Center for Development of Security Excellence, Memorandum from Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence dated November 17, 2014, https://www.cdse.edu/documents/toolkits-psa/Adherence-to-Federal-Laws-Prohibiting- Marijuana-Use.pdf (last accessed July 15, 2021).) None of the mitigating conditions apply to Applicant’s use. Applicant has not met her burden of persuasion to mitigate the security concerns arising from her lengthy history of drug involvement at this time. This allegation is found against Applicant.

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 relevant circumstances. The administrative judge should consider the nine adjudicative process factors listed at AG ¶ 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 AG ¶ 2(c), the ultimate determination of whether to grant national security eligibility for a security clearance must be an overall commonsense judgment based upon careful consideration of the guidelines and the whole-person concept.

I considered the potentially disqualifying and mitigating conditions in light of all pertinent facts and circumstances surrounding this case. Applicant has not mitigated the security concerns resulting from her long-term drug involvement. Overall, the record evidence creates substantial doubt as to Applicant's present suitability for national security eligibility and a security clearance.

FORMAL FINDINGS

Formal findings for or against Applicant on the allegations set forth in the SOR, as required by & E3.1.25 of Enclosure 3 of the Directive, are: Paragraph 1, Guideline H: AGAINST APPLICANT Subparagraphs 1.a and 1.b: 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 or continue Applicant's national security eligibility for a security clearance. Eligibility for access to classified information is denied. WILFORD H. ROSS Administrative Judge