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ISCR Case 23-00935 — CASE

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ISCR Case 23-00935

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

Case Profile
Decision Date6/10/2025
Statusdenied
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Judge: Mark W. Harvey
Government Counsel: Brittany C. M. White
Applicant's Counsel: Sean D. Rogers
Case Summary
The applicant in this case was a 58-year-old logistics specialist employed by a Department of Defense contractor since 2008. The adjudicative guidelines at issue were Guideline B (foreign influence) and Guideline E (personal conduct). The Statement of Reasons (SOR) alleged that the applicant maintained intimate relationships with two foreign women, one in Niger and one in Belize, and provided them with financial support, raising concerns about potential foreign influence and personal conduct.
The applicant admitted to the allegations in the SOR, including providing financial support to both women, which he characterized as stemming from emotional attachments rather than commercial transactions. He acknowledged that he had been in intimate relationships with both women and had disclosed these relationships to his spouse. The applicant argued that his financial support did not cause him financial strain and that he had no plans to live in either Niger or Belize. He also provided character references that praised his professionalism and reliability.
The administrative judge ruled against the applicant, concluding that the security concerns under Guidelines B and E were not mitigated. The judge noted the applicant's admissions and the nature of his relationships with the foreign women, emphasizing the potential for foreign influence and the lack of sufficient mitigating factors to ensure that granting a security clearance would be consistent with national security interests.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline BForeign Influence · Against Applicant
- Guideline EPersonal Conduct · Against Applicant
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Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 23-00935

deniedJun 10, 2025· Hon. Mark W. Harvey· hearing

Summary

A 58-year-old logistics specialist and Air Force retiree was denied a security clearance under Guideline B (Foreign Influence) and Guideline E (Personal Conduct). The denial stemmed from his intimate relationships with women in Niger and Belize, which raised concerns about potential coercion and divided loyalties.

Specifically, the applicant's intimate relationships with foreign nationals were identified as creating a potential vulnerability to coercion. Furthermore, the financial support he provided to these individuals raised concerns regarding divided allegiance and foreign influence. His emotional attachment to a foreign national in Niger, a country deemed high-risk, was considered a significant security risk.

Despite the applicant's military background and character references, the judge determined that these relationships posed a substantial security risk. Disqualifying conditions under AG ¶ 7(a), AG ¶ 7(b), AG ¶ 16(d), and AG ¶ 16(e) were raised, while mitigating conditions under AG ¶ 8(a) and AG ¶ 8(b) were applied. Ultimately, the security clearance was denied.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant maintained intimate relationships with foreign nationals, which created a potential vulnerability to coercion.
Financial support provided to these individuals raised concerns about divided allegiance and foreign influence.
The applicant's emotional attachment to a foreign national in a high-risk country (Niger) was deemed a significant security risk.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 7(a)appliedContact with Foreign Nationals
AG ¶ 7(b)appliedConnections to Foreign Persons
AG ¶ 16(d)appliedCredible Adverse Information
AG ¶ 16(e)appliedPersonal Conduct Creating Vulnerability

Mitigating

AG ¶ 8(a)rejectedNature of Relationships Unlikely to Create ConflictThe applicant's relationships were deemed to create a heightened risk of foreign influence.
AG ¶ 8(b)rejectedMinimal Conflict of InterestThe emotional connection to a foreign national in a high-risk area was significant.

Key Rule Quoted

“Eligibility for a security clearance is predicated upon the applicant meeting the criteria contained in the adjudicative guidelines.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedJun 9, 2023
Answer filedJan 19, 2024
Hearing heldMar 5, 2025via Microsoft Teams
Decision dateJun 10, 2025

Cite For

Foreign Influence Due to Intimate Relationships Under Guideline B
Personal Conduct Concerns Related to Undisclosed Relationships Under Guideline E
Impact of Emotional Attachments to Foreign Nationals on Security Clearance Eligibility

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

Full decision

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