Summary
The applicant, a 34-year-old single female with a history of employment in the defense sector, faced security concerns under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline F (Financial Considerations) due to numerous unpaid debts and falsification of information on her security clearance application. The judge found that the applicant failed to demonstrate responsible behavior regarding her financial obligations and did not mitigate the concerns raised by her personal conduct, leading to a denial of her security clearance.
Under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline F (Financial Considerations), the Statement of Reasons alleged the following: Applicant failed to affirmatively respond to questions asking whether she had any financial account or credit card charged off or cancelled for failure to pay, and whether in the past seven years or currently she was over 120 days delinquent on any account (2.a). judgment in the amount of $8,011 (1.a). judgment in the amount of $4,192 (1.b). judgment in the amount of $15,734 (1.c). judgment in the amount of $924 (1.d). government debt, subject to a garnishment order in the amount of $9,042 (1.e). charged-off account for credit cards or consumer goods in the amount of $8,272 (1.f). 22 delinquent medical debts totaling $15,721 (1.g). charged-off account for credit cards or consumer goods in the amount of $6,188 (1.h). charged-off account for credit cards or consumer goods in the amount of $5,694 (1.i). charged-off account for credit cards or consumer goods in the amount of $4,313 (1.j). telecommunication collection account in the amount of $1,406 (1.y). telecommunication collection account in the amount of $1,191 (1.z).
The judge denied the clearance. The government raised disqualifying conditions F.1.a, F.1.c, E.2.a. The judge applied mitigating conditions F.2.b, F.2.a, F.2.c, F.2.d, F.2.e, E.2.c. The decision turned on the following: The applicant admitted to having multiple unpaid debts totaling over $70,000, which raised concerns about her financial reliability; The applicant deliberately provided false information on her security clearance application regarding her financial status, which undermined her trustworthiness; The applicant did not present evidence of efforts to resolve her debts or seek financial counseling.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant admitted to having multiple unpaid debts totaling over $70,000, which raised concerns about her financial reliability.
- The applicant deliberately provided false information on her security clearance application regarding her financial status, which undermined her trustworthiness.
- The applicant did not present evidence of efforts to resolve her debts or seek financial counseling.
Conditions Referenced
- F.1.araisedInability or Unwillingness to Satisfy Debts
- F.1.craisedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- E.2.araisedDeliberate Omission, Concealment, or Falsification of Relevant Facts
- F.2.bappliedConditions That Resulted in the Financial Problem Were Largely Beyond the Person's ControlThe applicant experienced significant personal loss, including the deaths of her parents.
- F.2.arejectedThe Behavior Happened so Long Ago, Was so Infrequent, or Occurred Under Such Circumstances That It Is Unlikely to Recur
- F.2.crejectedThe Person Has Received or Is Receiving Counseling for the Problem
- F.2.drejectedThe Individual Initiated a Good-faith Effort to Repay Overdue Creditors or Otherwise Resolve Debts
- F.2.erejectedThe Individual Has a Reasonable Basis to Dispute the Legitimacy of the Past-due Debts
- E.2.crejectedThe Offense Is so Minor, or so Much Time Has Passed, or the Behavior Is so Infrequent
Key Rule Quoted
“Any doubt concerning personnel being considered for access to classified information will be resolved in favor of national security.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedSep 22, 2015
- Answer filedOct 21, 2015Applicant elected to proceed without a hearing.
- Hearing held—Case decided on the written record.
- Decision dateApr 19, 2016
Cite For
- Failure to Mitigate Financial Obligations Under Guideline F
- Deliberate Falsification of Information on Security Clearance Applications Under Guideline E
- Impact of Personal Circumstances on Financial Stability and Security Clearance Eligibility