Summary
A 42-year-old female applicant was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline E (Personal Conduct), Guideline G (Alcohol Consumption), and Guideline J (Criminal Conduct). The applicant had a history of four arrests for driving while impaired or intoxicated, occurring in June 1993, October 1997, June 2004, and August 2012.
A key issue was the applicant's intentional omission of these alcohol-related arrests from her security clearance application (EQIP Section 22), where she falsely answered "no" to a question about prior alcohol or drug-related charges. The government cross-alleged these arrests as criminal conduct. While the applicant admitted to these allegations and participated in counseling, she also admitted to being an alcoholic and continued to consume alcohol despite advice to abstain.
Despite the applicant's professional reputation, the decision highlighted her ongoing alcohol consumption and the intentional falsification of her application as primary reasons for the denial. Disqualifying conditions were raised under all three guidelines, and while some mitigating conditions were considered, they were insufficient to overcome the security concerns.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant was arrested four times for driving while impaired or intoxicated between 1993 and 2012.
- She intentionally withheld information about her alcohol-related arrests from her security clearance application.
- The applicant admitted to being an alcoholic and continued to consume alcohol despite counseling advice to abstain.
Conditions Referenced
- G ¶ 21raisedAlcohol Consumption
- G ¶ 22(a)appliedAlcohol-related Incidents
- G ¶ 22(c)appliedHabitual or Binge Consumption
- J ¶ 30raisedCriminal Conduct
- J ¶ 31(a)appliedMultiple Offenses
- J ¶ 31(c)appliedAdmission of Criminal Conduct
- E ¶ 15raisedPersonal Conduct
- E ¶ 16(a)appliedDeliberate Omission
- G ¶ 23(b)appliedAcknowledgment of Alcoholism
- G ¶ 23(d)rejectedSuccessful Completion of CounselingThe applicant's recent alcohol consumption undermined the evidence of successful rehabilitation.
- J ¶ 32(a)rejectedTime Elapsed Since Criminal BehaviorThe applicant's ongoing alcohol issues indicate a likelihood of recurrence.
- J ¶ 32(d)rejectedEvidence of Successful RehabilitationThe applicant's continued alcohol consumption negated evidence of rehabilitation.
- E ¶ 17(a)rejectedPrompt Efforts to Correct OmissionsThe applicant did not correct her omissions until confronted with evidence.
Key Rule Quoted
“A person who has access to classified information enters into a fiduciary relationship with the Government based on trust and confidence.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedOct 28, 2014
- Answer filed11/2014
- Hearing heldMay 27, 2015Applicant appeared pro se.
- Decision dateAug 27, 2015
Cite For
- Denial of Security Clearance Due to Ongoing Alcohol Consumption and Criminal History
- Intentional Omission of Relevant Facts in Security Clearance Application
- Impact of Personal Conduct on Security Clearance Eligibility