Summary
A 35-year-old claims associate for a defense contractor was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guidelines E (Personal Conduct), F (Financial Considerations), and J (Criminal Conduct). The applicant had numerous delinquent debts exceeding $12,000, some dating back to 1999, and failed to disclose several of these debts on her SF 85P.
Specifically, the Statement of Reasons cited delinquent credit card accounts totaling $10,716, medical bills under $100 each, a $106 cable service debt, a $170 cell phone service debt, and a $1,689 clothing store charge account. The applicant intentionally falsified her SF 85P by omitting several debts that were more than 180 days delinquent.
The judge found that the applicant's financial issues stemmed from poor judgment and that she did not provide evidence of good-faith efforts to resolve her debts. Despite the application of several mitigating conditions, the disqualifying conditions related to her financial conduct and intentional omissions were not overcome, leading to the denial of her eligibility for sensitive positions.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- Applicant has numerous delinquent debts totaling over $12,000 dating back to 1999.
- She failed to disclose several delinquent debts on her SF 85P, which were more than 180 days delinquent.
- The applicant admitted her financial situation was the result of poor judgment and did not provide evidence of good-faith efforts to resolve her debts.
Conditions Referenced
- DC 1raisedHistory of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- DC 2raisedDeliberate Omission or Falsification of Relevant Facts
- DC 3raisedInability or Unwillingness to Satisfy Debts
- DC 2raisedA Single Serious Crime or Multiple Lesser Offenses
- MC 1rejectedDelinquent Debts Are Not Recent
- MC 2rejectedFalsification Was an Isolated Incident
- MC 3rejectedFinancial Problems Are Largely Beyond the Person's Control
- MC 4rejectedReceived Counseling for the Problem
- MC 6rejectedGood-faith Effort to Resolve Debts
Key Rule Quoted
“"The adjudicative process is an examination of a sufficient period of a person's life to make an affirmative determination that the person is an acceptable security risk."”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedMay 3, 2006
- Answer filedMay 25, 2006Applicant elected to have the case decided on the written record.
- Hearing held—No hearing; decided on written record.
- Decision dateSep 15, 2006
Cite For
- Financial Irresponsibility as a Disqualifying Condition Under Guideline F
- Intentional Omission of Debts as a Disqualifying Condition Under Guideline E
- Criminal Conduct Related to Falsification of Information on Security Forms Under Guideline J