Summary
A 45-year-old flight attendant and Army Reserve sergeant was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline F (Financial Considerations). While the applicant successfully mitigated most of her financial issues, the primary reason for denial stemmed from her failure to disclose these financial matters on her security clearance applications.
Specifically, in a 2002 security clearance application, the applicant answered "No" to questions about past bankruptcies, delinquencies over 180 days, and current debts. This was despite having filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in 1998, which was discharged in 2002, and having previous delinquent debts. She claimed a recruiter advised her not to disclose the bankruptcy since the payment plan was completed, but she had signed and certified the application under penalty of law.
Although the applicant resolved several specific debts, including credit card debts totaling $6,242, $3,752, $6,373, $696, and $1,033, and paid medical debts of $120 and $93, her explanations for the omissions on her applications were deemed inconsistent. The failure to disclose her bankruptcy and delinquent debts raised unmitigated concerns about her honesty and reliability, leading to the denial of her security clearance.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant failed to disclose her Chapter 13 bankruptcy and delinquent debts on her security clearance applications, which raised questions about her honesty and reliability.
- The applicant's explanations for the omissions were inconsistent and did not sufficiently mitigate the concerns regarding her personal conduct.
Conditions Referenced
- E2.aappliedDeliberate Omission, Concealment, or Falsification of Relevant Facts
- F2.aappliedThe Behavior Happened so Long Ago, Was so Infrequent, or Occurred Under Such Circumstances That It Is Unlikely to Recur
- F2.bappliedThe Conditions That Resulted in the Financial Problem Were Largely Beyond the Person’s Control
- F2.dappliedThe Individual Initiated a Good-faith Effort to Repay Overdue Creditors or Otherwise Resolve Debts
Key Rule Quoted
“The protection of the national security is the paramount consideration.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedApr 24, 2014
- Answer filedMay 27, 2014
- Hearing heldOct 22, 2014via video-teleconference
- Decision dateNov 5, 2014
Cite For
- Failure to Disclose Financial Issues on Security Clearance Applications Under Guideline E
- Mitigation of Financial Concerns Under Guideline F Due to Circumstances Beyond the Applicant's Control
- Inconsistencies in Applicant's Testimony Affecting Credibility Under Guideline E