CASE · Clearance Adjudication Search EngineCASE

Loading case…

ISCR Case 21-01424 — CASE

Case record

ISCR Case 21-01424

A decided public DOHA case, shown for research — not advice or a prediction.

Case Profile
Decision Date3/8/2023
Statusdenied
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Applicant Representation: Pro Se
Judge: Robert E. Coacher
Government Counsel: Sakeena Farhath
Case Summary
The applicant in this case was a 63-year-old male with a history of alcohol consumption and multiple driving while intoxicated (DWI) charges, which raised concerns under Guideline G (alcohol consumption) and Guideline J (criminal conduct). The Statement of Reasons (SOR) detailed eight DWI charges spanning from 1986 to 2019, along with allegations of providing financial support to a girlfriend who was a citizen of Ethiopia, raising issues under Guideline B (foreign influence).
During the proceedings, the applicant admitted to several of the alcohol-related allegations and acknowledged a pattern of drinking and driving, although he claimed to have reduced his alcohol consumption in recent years. He denied some allegations but was deemed to have admitted them through his testimony. The applicant provided character references and evidence of compliance with probation requirements following his last DWI charge. However, he did not present sufficient evidence to mitigate the concerns related to his alcohol use and criminal history.
The administrative judge ruled against the applicant, concluding that he failed to mitigate the security concerns under Guidelines G and J, while he did mitigate the concerns under Guideline B. The judge emphasized the importance of the applicant's history of alcohol-related offenses and the potential risks associated with his behavior, ultimately denying his eligibility for a security clearance.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline BForeign Influence · For Applicant
- Guideline GAlcohol Consumption · Against Applicant
- Guideline JCriminal Conduct · Against Applicant
Similar decisions
Other decisions whose allegations read most like this one. Descriptive similarity of the allegations only — not a prediction.
Finding similar decisions…

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 21-01424

deniedMar 8, 2023· Hon. Robert E. Coacher· hearing

Summary

A 63-year-old male applicant was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline G (Alcohol Consumption) and Guideline J (Criminal Conduct). The Statement of Reasons cited eight charges of driving while intoxicated (DWI), which raised questions about his criminal conduct and a pattern of alcohol-related incidents.

The judge determined that the applicant's repeated alcohol-related issues and his failure to acknowledge these problems undermined his reliability and trustworthiness. While Guideline B (Foreign Influence) was also considered, specifically regarding financial support provided to a girlfriend who is a citizen and resident of Ethiopia, mitigating conditions were applied in this area.

Ultimately, the judge found that the persistent alcohol-related incidents and the applicant's lack of acknowledgment regarding his alcohol issues presented significant security concerns, leading to the denial of his security clearance.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant had multiple DWI charges, indicating a pattern of alcohol-related incidents.
The applicant failed to acknowledge his alcohol issues, which undermined his reliability and trustworthiness.
The applicant's history of criminal conduct raised significant security concerns.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 21raisedAlcohol Consumption
AG ¶ 30raisedCriminal Conduct

Mitigating

AG ¶ 8(c)appliedForeign InfluenceThe applicant ended his relationship with his Ethiopian girlfriend in 2019 and had no further contact.

Key Rule Quoted

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

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedOct 25, 2021
Answer filedNov 27, 2021
Hearing heldNov 2, 2022rescheduled from October 4, 2022
Decision dateMar 8, 2023

Cite For

Denial of Security Clearance Due to Repeated Alcohol-related Incidents Under Guideline G
Impact of Criminal Conduct on Security Clearance Eligibility Under Guideline J
Mitigating Factors for Foreign Influence Under Guideline B

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 B (Foreign Influence) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: denied

The judge found that the applicant provided financial support to a girlfriend who is a citizen and resident of Ethiopia. Despite the applicant's claims of ending the relationship and ceasing financial support, the judge concluded that the foreign influence posed a security concern, leading to the denial of the security clearance.

Country conditions:the decision took administrative notice of official facts about the foreign country (the Government’s country submission).

U.S. ties the decision noted: U.S. Career or Business · U.S. Financial Assets Predominant

¶	Allegation	Finding	Relationship	Country	Response	Disqualifying (¶7)	Mitigating applied (¶8)	Mitigation
3.a	Applicant provided financial support to a girlfriend who is a citizen and resident of Ethiopia.	Against Applicant	Financial Support to Foreign Relative Friend	Ethiopia HEIGHTENED RISK	Admitted	(a) contact with a foreign family member/associate/friend creating a heightened risk of exploitation	—	Claimed Other

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

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline G (Alcohol Consumption) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: denied

The judge found that the applicant had been charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) on eight occasions, which raised significant concerns under Guideline G. The applicant's history of alcohol-related incidents and his claims of abstinence were not deemed credible, leading to the denial of his security clearance.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Incident	Response	Disqualifying (¶22)	Mitigating applied (¶23)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant was charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) on eight occasions.	Against Applicant	DUI or DWI Alcohol	Admitted	—	—	—
1.b–1.h	4 sub-charges — specific text not stated in this decision (against the applicant). (low confidence)	Mixed			—	—	—

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

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline J (Criminal Conduct) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: denied

The judge found that the applicant's history of driving while intoxicated (DWI) incidents raised significant concerns regarding his criminal conduct. The applicant was denied eligibility for a security clearance due to his repeated DWI offenses and lack of credible evidence of rehabilitation.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Offense	Criminal disposition	Response	Disqualifying (¶31)	Mitigating applied (¶32)	Mitigation
2.a	Applicant's DWI incidents raise concerns about his criminal conduct.	Against Applicant	DUI or DWI Criminal	Conduct No Charge	Unknown	—	—	—

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

Full decision

The complete, official text — footnotes and signatures included — is in the original PDF.