Summary
The applicant, a 41-year-old senior manager with a military background, faced security clearance denial under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline F (Financial Considerations) due to numerous unresolved delinquent debts and failure to disclose financial issues on her security clearance application. The judge found that the applicant's explanations for her financial difficulties were not credible and that she had not provided sufficient evidence of responsible actions to mitigate the concerns.
Under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline F (Financial Considerations), the Statement of Reasons alleged the following: The applicant failed to disclose delinquent debts on her security clearance application (SCA) (2.a). The applicant provided a credible explanation for not disclosing the judgment on her SCA, stating that she believed it had been settled and removed from her credit report (2.b). mortgage past due $28,065, alleged in SOR past due-$22,315 (1.a). credit card-collection-$6,393 (1.b). debt sold to collection company in SOR ¶ 1.e (1.c). credit card collection-$4,307 (1.d). in 2012, original debt past due-$125, now with collection company-$3,525 (1.e). collection by law firm-$2,102 (1.f). in 2012, original debt past due-$64, now with collection company-$683 (1.g). credit card collection-$10,456 (1.i). credit card collection-$9,133 (1.j). in 2012, credit card, past due $135, now delinquent balance-$3,177 (1.k). garnishment for a judgment (1.l). past due-$238 (1.m).
The judge denied the clearance. The government raised disqualifying conditions F.1.a, F.1.b, F.1.c, E.2.a. The judge applied mitigating conditions F.2.c, F.2.d, F.2.e. The decision turned on the following: Applicant failed to provide credible evidence of resolving numerous delinquent debts; Applicant did not disclose past due debts on her security clearance application, raising concerns about her reliability and trustworthiness; The applicant's financial problems were not shown to be under unique circumstances or unlikely to recur.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- Applicant failed to provide credible evidence of resolving numerous delinquent debts.
- Applicant did not disclose past due debts on her security clearance application, raising concerns about her reliability and trustworthiness.
- The applicant's financial problems were not shown to be under unique circumstances or unlikely to recur.
Conditions Referenced
- F.1.araisedInability to Satisfy Debts
- F.1.braisedUnwillingness to Satisfy Debts Regardless of the Ability to Do So
- F.1.craisedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- E.2.araisedDeliberate Omission of Information From a Security Clearance Application
- F.2.cappliedReceived Financial Counseling
- F.2.drejectedGood-faith Effort to Repay Overdue CreditorsOnly one debt was resolved; others remained unpaid.
- F.2.erejectedReasonable Basis to Dispute the Legitimacy of Past-due DebtsInsufficient evidence provided to substantiate disputes.
Key Rule Quoted
“The protection of the national security is the paramount consideration.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedJun 14, 2016
- Answer filedJul 11, 2016
- Hearing held—Decided on written record.
- Decision dateAug 16, 2017
Cite For
- Failure to Disclose Financial Issues on Security Clearance Application Under Guideline E
- Unresolved Delinquent Debts as a Basis for Denial Under Guideline F
- Credibility of Applicant's Explanations for Financial Difficulties