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ISCR Case 21-01996 — CASE

ISCR Case 21-01996denied

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 21-01996

deniedAug 1, 2022· Hon. Richard A. Cefola· hearing

Summary

A 27-year-old defense contractor was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline H (Drug Involvement). The denial stemmed from the applicant's admitted history of marijuana use and multiple instances of falsifying information on his e-QIPs and DOHA interrogatories.

Specifically, the applicant admitted to using marijuana on two to three occasions between 2012 and 2015, and again prior to testing positive in October 2020. He also acknowledged willfully falsifying Section 23 on his 2014 and 2020 e-QIPs by denying illegal drug use. Furthermore, he falsified material facts in September 2021 DOHA interrogatories by affirming he had not used marijuana since 2013.

The administrative judge found that the applicant's admissions of drug use and repeated falsifications demonstrated a lack of candor. Insufficient evidence of rehabilitation or other mitigating circumstances was presented, leading to the denial of eligibility for access to classified information.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant admitted to using marijuana on multiple occasions, including a positive drug test in 2020.
The applicant willfully falsified information on his e-QIPs regarding drug use, demonstrating a lack of candor.
The applicant failed to provide evidence of rehabilitation or mitigating circumstances.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 25 (a)appliedSubstance Misuse
AG ¶ 25 (c)appliedIllegal Possession of a Controlled Substance
AG ¶ 16 (a)appliedDeliberate Omission or Falsification
AG ¶ 16 (b)appliedProviding False or Misleading Information

Key Rule Quoted

“The protection of the national security is the paramount consideration.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedNov 30, 2021
Answer filed2021-12-XX
Hearing heldApr 13, 2022
Decision dateAug 1, 2022

Cite For

Lack of Candor in Security Clearance Applications Under Guideline E
Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse Under Guideline H
Insufficient Evidence of Rehabilitation Leading to Denial of Security Clearance

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: HearingDecided: denied

The judge found that the applicant willfully falsified information regarding his illegal drug use on multiple occasions in his e-QIP submissions and during interrogatories. As a result, the judge ruled against the applicant on all allegations under Guideline E, concluding that the applicant's conduct was not consistent with national security interests.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Conduct	Concealed Issue	Response	Disqualifying (¶16)	Mitigating applied (¶17)	Mitigation
2.a	Applicant answered 'No' to Section 23 on his 2020 e-QIP, regarding his use of illegal drugs, which he admits was a willful falsification.	Against Applicant	Falsification Security FormFOUND DELIBERATE	Drug Involvement	Admitted	(a) deliberate omission, concealment, or falsification on a security form (c) credible adverse information across areas supporting a whole-person concern	—	—
2.b	Applicant falsified material facts on his September 14, 2021, DOHA interrogatories by affirming he had not used marijuana since 2013.	Against Applicant	Lack of Candor in InterviewFOUND DELIBERATE	Drug Involvement	Admitted	(a) deliberate omission, concealment, or falsification on a security form (c) credible adverse information across areas supporting a whole-person concern	—	—
2.c	Applicant answered 'No' to Section 23 on his 2014 e-QIP, regarding his use of illegal drugs, which he admits was a willful falsification.	Against Applicant	Falsification Security FormFOUND DELIBERATE	Drug Involvement	Admitted	(a) deliberate omission, concealment, or falsification on a security form (c) credible adverse information across areas supporting a whole-person concern	—	—
2.d	Applicant answered 'No' to Section 23 on his 2020 e-QIP, regarding his use of illegal drugs, which he admits was a willful falsification.	Against Applicant	Falsification Security FormFOUND DELIBERATE	Drug Involvement	Admitted	(a) deliberate omission, concealment, or falsification on a security form (c) credible adverse information across areas supporting a whole-person concern	—	—

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: HearingDecided: denied

The judge found that the applicant used marijuana on multiple occasions, including a positive test in October 2020. The applicant's admissions regarding his marijuana use were not sufficient to mitigate the security concerns. The outcome was a denial of the application for a security clearance.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Substance / event	Use level	Response	Disqualifying (¶25)	Mitigating applied (¶26)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant admits he used marijuana sometime prior to being tested on October 7, 2020, when he tested positive for its usage.	Against Applicant	MarijuanaWHILE CLEARED	Occasional	Admitted	(a) any substance misuse (c) illegal possession, cultivation, manufacture, purchase, sale, or distribution; or paraphernalia	—	—
1.b	Applicant admits that he used marijuana on two to three occasions from about 2012 to 2015.	Against Applicant	Marijuana	Occasional	Admitted	(a) any substance misuse (c) illegal possession, cultivation, manufacture, purchase, sale, or distribution; or paraphernalia	—	—

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. 21-01996 ) ) Applicant for Security Clearance ) Appearances For Government: Jeff Nagel, Esquire, Department Counsel For Applicant: Pro se August 1, 2022

STATEMENT OF CASE

CEFOLA, Richard A., Administrative Judge: On May 30, 2014, and January 27, 2020, Applicant submitted his Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e-QIPs). On November 30, 2021, the Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DODCAF) issued Applicant a Statement of Reasons (SOR) detailing security concerns under Guidelines H and E. 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 Adjudicative Guidelines effective June 8, 2017. Applicant answered the SOR soon thereafter, and requested a hearing before an administrative judge. On January 31, 2022, the SOR was amended, adding subparagraphs to each Guideline. I received the case assignment on February 8, 2022. DOHA issued a Notice of Hearing on February 22, 2022, and I convened the hearing as scheduled on April 13, 2022. The Government offered Exhibits (GXs) 1 through 4, which were received without objection. Applicant testified on his own behalf. He also asked

that the record be kept open until May 6, 2022, for the receipt of additional documentation. Applicant submitted nothing. DOHA received the transcript of the hearing (TR) on April 22, 2022. Based upon a review of the pleadings, exhibits, and testimony, eligibility for access to classified information is denied.

FINDINGS OF FACT

In his Answer to the SOR, as amended, Applicant admitted the factual allegations in Paragraph 1, and subparagraphs 2.c. and 2.d., with explanations. He denied subparagraphs 2.a. and 2.b. Applicant is 27 years old, unmarried, and has no children. He works for a defense contractor. (TR at page 16 line 22 to page 20 line 12.) Guideline H – Drug Involvement The SOR subparagraphs will be discussed chronologically: 1.b. From about 2012–2015, Applicant admits that he used marijuana on two to three occasions. (TR at page 20 lines 13–25.) 1.a. Applicant admits he used marijuana sometime prior to being tested on October 7, 2020, when he tested positive for its usage. (GX 4.) Guideline E - Personal Conduct 2.c. Applicant answered “No” to Section 23 on his 2014 e-QIP, regarding his use of illegal drugs. He admits this was a willful falsification, as Applicant used marijuana as noted above in subparagraph 1.b. (TR at page 21 lines 1–25, and GX 1 at pages 20–21.) 2.a. and 2.d. Applicant answered “No” to Section 23 on his 2020 e-QIP, regarding his use of illegal drugs. He admits this was a willful falsification, as Applicant used marijuana as noted above in subparagraph 1.b. (TR at page 22 line 1 to page 23 line 5, at page 24 lines 4–15, and GX 2 at pages 39–40.) 2.b. Applicant falsified material facts on his September 14, 2021, DOHA interrogatories by affirming the statement in his Personal Subject Interview that he had not used marijuana since 2013. (GX 3 at pages 5 and 7–8, and GX 4.)

POLICIES

When evaluating an applicant’s suitability for a security clearance, the administrative judge must consider the adjudicative guidelines (AG). In addition to brief introductory explanations for each guideline, the adjudicative guidelines list potentially disqualifying conditions and mitigating conditions, which are useful in evaluating an applicant’s eligibility for access to classified information. These guidelines are not inflexible rules of law. Instead, recognizing the complexities of human behavior, administrative judges apply the guidelines 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. According to AG ¶ 2(a), 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 decision. The protection of the national security is the paramount consideration. AG ¶ 2(b) requires that “[a]ny 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. Likewise, I have avoided drawing inferences grounded on mere speculation or conjecture. Under Directive ¶ E3.1.14, the Government must present evidence to establish controverted facts alleged in the SOR. Under Directive ¶ E3.1.15, an “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 access to classified information. 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 information. Section 7 of Executive Order 10865 provides that decisions shall be “in terms of the national interest and shall in no sense be a determination as to the loyalty of the applicant concerned.” See also EO 12968, Section 3.1(b) (listing multiple prerequisites for access to classified or sensitive information).

ANALYSIS

Guideline H - Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse The security concern relating to the guideline for Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse is set forth at 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. The guideline at AG ¶ 25 contains seven conditions that could raise a security concern and may be disqualifying. Two conditions are established: (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. Appellant smoked marijuana two to three times during the time period 2012–2015, and again in 2020. Therefore, AG ¶ 25 (a), and (c) are established. The guideline at AG ¶ 26 contains four conditions that could mitigate security concerns. Two conditions may be applicable: (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. None of these apply. Applicant used marijuana as recently as in October of 2020. Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse is found against Applicant 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 notes several conditions that could raise security concerns under AG ¶ 16. Two are potentially applicable in this case: (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 (b) deliberately providing false or misleading information; or concealing or omitting information, concerning relevant facts to an employer,

investigator, security official, competent medical or mental health professional involved in making a recommendation relevant to a national security eligibility determination, or other official government representative. Applicant falsified his 2014 and 2020 e-QIPs. He was also less than candid in Applicant’s 2021 interrogatories. The evidence is sufficient to raise these disqualifying conditions. AG ¶ 17 provides conditions that could mitigate security concerns. I considered all of the mitigating conditions under AG ¶ 17 including: (a) the individual made prompt, good-faith efforts to correct the omission, concealment, or falsification before being confronted with the facts; and (b) the refusal or failure to cooperate, omission, or concealment was caused or significantly contributed to by advice of legal counsel or of a person with professional responsibilities for advising or instructing the individual specifically concerning security processes. Upon being made aware of the requirement to cooperate or provide the information, the individual cooperated fully and truthfully. None of these apply. Applicant’s lack of candor with the Government extends from 2014–2021, a period of about seven years. Personal Conduct 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 an applicant’s conduct and all the 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. AG ¶ 2(b) requires each case must be judged on its own merits. Under AG ¶ 2(c), the ultimate determination of whether to grant 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 the facts and circumstances surrounding this case. Applicant used marijuana, and was not candid about his usage. Overall, the record evidence leaves me with questions and doubts as to Applicant’s eligibility and suitability for a security clearance. For these reasons, I conclude Applicant failed to mitigate the security concerns arising from his drug involvement and substance abuse, and his personal conduct

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 Paragraph 2, Guideline E: AGAINST APPLICANT Subparagraphs 2.a~2.d: 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 national security eligibility for a security clearance. Eligibility for access to classified information is denied. Richard A. Cefola Administrative Judge