At Least 30 Trump Officials Denied Security Clearances, But Got Them Anyway

Jared Kushner is one of  at least 30 Trump officials who had their security clearances denied by career security experts but were approved anyway, despite compromising information. This is a major national security scandal. The ongoing access to the nation’s most secret information by people who were deemed ineligible for top secret clearances is an unacceptable threat to our national security.

KUSHNER COMPROMISED: Jared Kushner was denied a top secret security clearance by security experts because they were concerned about potential foreign influence on him. They were overruled by someone appointed to head the White House Personnel Security Office during Trump’s presidency, and Kushner got it anyway.

NBC News: “Jared Kushner’s application for a top-secret clearance was rejected by two career White House security specialists after an FBI background check raised concerns about potential foreign influence on him — but their supervisor overruled the recommendation and approved the clearance, two sources familiar with the matter told NBC News. The official, Carl Kline, is a former Pentagon employee who was installed as director of the personnel security office in the Executive Office of the President in May 2017.”

KUSHNER ONE OF AT LEAST 30: Kushner was one of at least 30 Trump officials who had their security clearances denied by career security specialists, which was then overruled and approved, despite unfavorable information.

NBC News: “Kushner’s was one of at least 30 cases in which Kline overruled career security experts and approved a top-secret clearance for incoming Trump officials despite unfavorable information, the two sources said.”

UNPRECEDENTED OVERRULING: In the three years before the appointment of this new head to the White House Personnel Security Office, only one rejection was overruled.

NBC News: “They said the number of rejections that were overruled was unprecedented — it had happened only once in the three years preceding Kline’s arrival.”

MUST BE INVESTIGATED: While the Trump administration and Republicans have ignored these ongoing security concerns, Democrats are launching an investigation of the security clearance process to ensure this never happens again.

NBC News: “The House Oversight Committee is launching an investigation into the White House security clearance process, an inquiry that promises to put a spotlight on how President Donald Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, overcame concerns to gain access to highly classified information.”