ÿWPC‚ ÿjü™nBÖ³*„ Õf€(Ç•æ¸Ã•Ø·6¥jFIŒ×!!!Aò8¿xÑ„8Á`@ò‚éØ:L3á0^¿mpÁ¤)ž\w–†œíîÆGXèG@Pb·ØµsÁuš*Ü»5ï§Rƒý¼UTfùPÍõȧ˜'‰Ä#9)«}‰ D\<»CŒ""ÌÿQ”ØŽ˜ôƒ…ï€õ •¡XxרVI%ÆÞ ’Ýš1²ñtL·n‘Úš„GǾv ù‰s<ÃÒç»þDe.¤\ ÔhLÆ6kå¸9ç©%4ÛoÛ8Å1R¾Öºp-ýK¬ÀÂÉ0dán™^ßÇ+JϪ±d¹µ"õäñ(Ð*ƒ´äye&o‰ÖøÕ’ÿCº8ÃSÞógJì¬ô7æ¤/‡â|5•dG¬ÓÃæ«b‡ýµY¼wtÎbz4\x'' ƒEí3Ó¿–?6uÅm´¨CƒÜ©ÛÌŠ/Ô:foA [CéËêäAÝß%(Š°Þjœ¸ßÆUXyÒNn‹ìº&ý…Ô‘¯Aû<‰ÊZÚPitþ†ðrÐFŠ?0@2o¡·X?å*ÇŠ‰"+.À3Z#ÉìU Nµ % 0: àZC ^ w© 4­ Á Ð mÒ àZé ^C b¡ E¥ 0©§ U>P 0DŽ ~Ò NPàR 2UN;;;;܉‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰ Be˜Hewlett-Packard HP LaserJet P3010 SeriesÈÈÈÈ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô8DocumentManagement::ModifiedBooleanTRUEW}KÌbŽKtFold3|xÿU‹ÿÿÿÿ8DocumentManagement::ModifiedBooleanTRUE TÑTRXì3Ø'LetterXì3Ø' Letterhead3Ø'Letter3Ø'LetterEETÑ ù(Y(2Uî$¤¤Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÓ  ÓÔ€ôòXXÔà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóóô\  `‹&Times New Roman(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó tÝ ƒUî$ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ôòXXÔà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ôð ð[Q]:€Have€you€written€them€or€otherwise€communicated€to€them€that€you€dispute€the€debt?€[A]:€I€have€calledÐ ° Ðthem€and€I€have€written€a€letter.€€And€the€response€is,€you€still€owe€us€this.ðð€€Tr.€at€122.€€ ÖÝ ƒUî$ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ôòXXÔà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔApplicant€testified€that€he€started€the€company€himself.€€Tr.€at€70.€€ ÿÝ ƒUî$ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ôòXXÔà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€Judge€noted€evidence€that€Applicant€owed€tax€for€2012€through€2014,€although€this€was€not€alleged€in€theÐ ° ÐÔ_ÔSORÔ_Ô.€€He€stated€that€he€was€considering€this€non„alleged€tax€debt€in€on€the€questions€of€mitigation,€rehabilitation,Ð tÄ Ðcredibility,€and€the€whole„person€concept.€€Decision€at€12,€note€7.€€(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular ÒÝ ƒUî$ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ôòXXÔà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€Judge€cited€to€Applicantððs€ð ðlengthy€history€of€noncomplianceðð€with€tax€laws.€€ð ðThere€is€insufficientÐ ° Ðevidence€about€why€Applicant€was€unable€to€make€greater€progress€sooner€in€the€filing€of€his€tax€returns€[and]€in€theÐ tÄ Ðpayment€of€his€tax€debts[.]ðð€Decision€at€14. dÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔKEYWORD:€Guideline€B;€Guideline€L;€Guideline€FÐ ° ÐÌDIGEST:€Applicant€was€given€an€opportunity€to€request€a€hearing€and€clearly€responded€that€asÐ ˆØ Ðfar€as€he€was€concerned€the€documentary€record€was€sufficient.€€There€was€no€ambiguity€in€thisÐ tÄ Ðresponse,€which€placed€the€Judge€on€notice€that€Applicant€had€no€objection€to€his€considerationÐ `° Ðof€the€existing€transcript.€€In€any€event,€forum€choice€is€a€responsibility€of€the€parties,€not€of€theÐ L œ ÐJudge.€€Moreover,€if€Applicant€believed€that€a€full€and€complete€understanding€of€hisÐ 8 ˆ Ðcircumstances€required€his€live€testimony,€it€was€his€duty€to€request€a€hearing.€€In€a€DOHAÐ $ t Ðproceeding,€it€is€the€applicantððs€job€to€present€evidence€in€mitigation€of€the€concerns€raised€in€anÐ  ` ÐÔ_ÔSORÔ_Ô.€€The€Judge€is€an€advocate€for€neither€side€and€bases€his€Decision€on€the€evidence€presentedÐ ü L  Ðto€him€by€the€parties.€€He€has€no€independent€duty€to€obtain€additional€evidence.€AdverseÐ è 8  Ðdecision€affirmedÐ Ô$  ÐÌÔ_ÔCASENOÔ_Ô:€12„10335.a2Ð ¬ü  ÐÌDATE:€12/29/2017Ð „Ô  ÐÌÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÑ€ …>ÑÑ€ÑÑ8€òòdÄdÈ8ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àDATE:€December€29,€2017Ð Ð  ÐÌÌÌÒ.؉ð7r°(#°(#.ÒßA€Y) °°xdE°gAßÐ €Ð ÐÌIn€Re:Ð {Ë ÐÌà  à„„„„„„„„„„Ìà  à€Ð ?"! ÐÌApplicant€for€Security€ClearanceÐ $g# ÐÌßA€Y) °°xdE°î%gAßÐ ï%?!% Ð)Ð €Ð% Ð)Ð l¼& Ð)Ð X ¨' Ð)Ð D!”( Ð)Ð 0"€) Ð)Ð #l* Ð)Ð $X+ Ð)Ð ô$D , ÐÐ à%0!- ÐÓp°œXÓÌÌÌà p àÔ_ÔISCRÔ_Ô€Case€No.€12„10335Ð D!”0 ÐÐ 0"€1 ÐÒ.؉ð7r°°.ÒÓ °\X›XpÓÐ ¸'#1 Ðò òÓ  ÓAPPEAL€BOARD€DECISIONÐ ¤(ô#2 ÐÌÌòòAPPEARANCESóóÐ h+¸&5 Ðó óÌÔ‡&ôS%XXÔò òFOR€GOVERNMENTó óÐ @-(7» ÐÑ …>Ñâ  âÑTRXì3Ø'LetterXà3Ø' Letter3Ø'Letterÿ3Ø'LetterTÑâ  âÑ  ÑJames€B.€Norman,€Esq.,€Chief€Department€CounselÐ ° ÐÌò òFOR€APPLICANTó óÐ `° ÐAdam€R.€Webber,€Esq.Ô#†Xè X%&ôSè #ÔÐ 8ˆ ÐÌÓ  Óà  àÔ‡Xè XXXè ÔThe€Department€of€Defense€(DoD)€declined€to€grant€Applicant€a€security€clearance.€€On€AprilÐ üL Ð26,€2015,€DoD€issued€a€statement€of€reasons€(Ô_ÔSORÔ_Ô)€advising€Applicant€of€the€basis€for€thatÐ è 8 Ðdecisionð!ðsecurity€concerns€raised€under€Guideline€B€(Foreign€Influence),€Guideline€L€(OutsideÐ Ô $ ÐActivities),€and€Guideline€F€(Financial€Considerations)€of€Department€of€Defense€Directive€5220.6Ð À  Ð(Jan.€2,€1992,€as€amended)€(Directive).€€Applicant€requested€a€hearing.€€On€April€21,€2017,€after€theÐ ¬ ü  Ðhearing,€Defense€Office€of€Hearings€and€Appeals€(DOHA)€Administrative€Judge€Philip€S.€HoweÐ ˜ è  Ðdenied€Applicantððs€request€for€a€security€clearance.€€Applicant€appealed€pursuant€to€Directive€ððððÐ „Ô  ÐE3.1.28€and€E3.1.30.Ô#†Xè XXXè ‘ #ÔÐ pÀ  ÐÌà  àOn€July€21,€2017,€we€remanded€the€case.€€On€September€7,€2017,€Administrative€Judge€MarkÐ H˜  ÐHarvey€issued€a€Decision€on€Remand,€denying€Applicantððs€request€for€a€security€clearance.€Ð 4„  ÐApplicant€again€appealed€pursuant€to€the€Directive.Ð  p ÐÌà  àApplicant€raised€the€following€issues€on€appeal:€whether€he€was€denied€due€process;€whetherÐ øH Ðthe€Judgeððs€findings€contained€errors;€and€whether€the€Judgeððs€adverse€decision€was€arbitrary,Ð ä4 Ðcapricious,€or€contrary€to€law.€€The€Judgeððs€favorable€findings€under€Guidelines€B€and€L€are€not€atÐ Ð  Ðissue€in€this€appeal.€€Consistent€with€the€following,€we€affirm.Ð ¼  ÐÌà  àò òThe€Judgeððs€Findings€of€Factó óÐ ”ä Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àÌà  àThe€Judge€made€the€following€findings€pertinent€to€the€issues€raised€on€appeal:€BeginningÐ l¼ Ðaround€2002,€Applicant€worked€for€a€company,€for€which€he€attempted€to€market€technology€to€theÐ X¨ ÐDoD€and€other€prospective€partners.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€company€stopped€functioning€in€2007,€and€by€2010Ð D” ÐApplicant€and€the€company€were€deeply€in€debt,€though€by€2015€Applicant€had€paid€off€more€thanÐ 0€ Ð$450,000.€€Applicantððs€debt€now€totals€about€$30,000.€€Ð l ÐÌà  àThe€company€employed€an€accountant,€who€was€responsible€for€preparing€its€tax€returns€asÐ ô D Ðwell€as€Applicantððs.€€This€accountant€was€fired€in€2007.€€Applicantððs€Ô_ÔSORÔ_Ô€alleges€that€he€failed€toÐ à!0  Ðfile€his€Federal€and€state€tax€returns€in€a€timely€fashion€for€tax€years€2008€through€2011.€AlthoughÐ Ì"! Ðhe€hired€a€CPA€to€assist€him,€Applicant€did€not€provide€her€all€of€the€relevant€information.€€HisÐ ¸#" Ðreturns€have€subsequently€been€filed.€€By€the€close€of€the€record,€Applicant€still€owes€about€$30,000Ð ¤$ô# Ðin€Federal,€state,€and€local€taxes.Ð %à $ ÐÌà  àThe€Ô_ÔSORÔ_Ô€also€alleges€a€debt€of€a€little€over€$11,000€owed€to€a€law€firm€for€representationÐ h'¸"& Ðprovided€during€the€course€of€a€lawsuit€in€which€the€company€was€a€party.€€This€account€is€inÐ T(¤#' Ðcollection.€€Applicant€states€that€this€debt€was€owed€by€the€company€and€not€by€himself,€althoughÐ @)$( Ðthe€creditor€contends€that€Applicant€is€liable.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€This€debt€appears€as€Applicantððs€on€a€credit€reportÐ ° Ðby€one€of€the€three€reporting€agencies.€Ð œì ÐÌà  àApplicant€attributed€his€financial€problems€to€several€things:€that€he€lacked€the€financialÐ tÄ Ðexpertise€to€run€the€company;€Ô_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔheÔ_Ô€provided€financial€support€to€his€parents€and€in„laws;€the€death€ofÐ `° Ðhis€son€and€resulting€litigation;€his€own€serious€medical€problems€due€to€stress;€fraud€perpetratedÐ L œ Ðby€an€employee€and€accountant€against€the€company;€a€groundless€lawsuit€filed€against€the€company;Ð 8 ˆ Ðand€modifications€that€Applicant€made€to€his€residence.Ð $ t ÐÌà  àApplicant€enjoys€a€excellent€reputation€for€honesty,€reliability,€and€trustworthiness.€€HeÐ ü L  Ðcalled€two€witnesses€at€the€hearing,€one€of€whom€was€generally€aware€of€the€nature€of€ApplicantððsÐ è 8  Ðdifficulties.Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àÌÌÌà  àò òThe€Judgeððs€Analysisó óÐ pÀ ÐÌà  àAlthough€he€resolved€most€of€the€Ô_ÔSORÔ_Ô€debts€in€Applicantððs€favor,€the€Judge€entered€adverseÐ H˜ Ðfindings€regarding€the€two€discussed€above.€€Though€noting€that€some€of€the€conditions€thatÐ 4„ Ðcontributed€to€Applicantððs€financial€problems€were€beyond€his€control,€he€concluded€that€others,Ð  p Ðsuch€as€undertaking€duties€without€the€appropriate€degree€of€financial€expertise,€were€not.€Ð  \ ÐConcerning€the€debt€to€the€law€firm,€the€Judge€stated€that€Applicant€did€not€provide€documents€aboutÐ øH Ðthis€matter,€including€a€contract€with€the€law€firm€or€any€correspondence€with€it.€€He€stated€that€thisÐ ä4 Ðdebt€is€substantial€and€remains€on€Applicantððs€credit€report.€€The€Judge€also€noted€that€Applicant€hadÐ Ð  Ðfailed€to€file€his€tax€returns€in€a€timely€fashion€and€to€pay€his€taxes€for€several€years.€€HeÐ ¼  Ðacknowledged€€evidence€that€Applicantððs€returns€have€now€been€filed,€but€he€concluded€that€this€wasÐ ¨ø Ðnot€sufficient€to€mitigate€Applicantððs€lengthy€history€of€tax€delinquencies.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ”ä ÐÌà  àIn€the€whole„person€analysis,€the€Judge€cited€to€the€testimony€of€Applicantððs€characterÐ l¼ Ðwitnesses€that€he€is€reliable,€trustworthy,€and€honest,€though€too€trusting€of€others.€€He€also€notedÐ X ¨ Ðthe€progress€that€Applicant€had€made€in€resolving€his€delinquent€debts.€€However,€he€found€thatÐ D!” ÐApplicant€had€not€demonstrated€responsible€action€regarding€the€debt€to€the€law€firm.€€He€also€statedÐ 0"€  Ðthat€Applicant€had€known€about€his€obligation€to€file€and€pay€taxes€for€several€years€but€did€not€fileÐ #l! Ðuntil€late€2016.€€He€stated€that€Applicantððs€having€filed€his€returns€shortly€after€the€hearing€in€hisÐ $X" Ðcase€was€not€sufficient€to€mitigate€the€concerns€arising€from€them.Ð ô$D # ÐÐ à%0!$ Ðà  àò òDiscussionó óÐ ° ÐÌà  àApplicant€contends€that€the€Judge€erred€by€not€convening€a€hearing€upon€remand.€€As€heÐ ˆØ Ðnotes,€after€considering€his€original€appeal,€we€remanded€the€case€for€the€Judge€to€consider€anÐ tÄ Ðadditional€document.€€We€stated€that,€if€the€case€were€to€be€ð ðremanded€to€a€different€Judge,€he€or€sheÐ `° Ðshould€inquire€of€the€parties€whether€a€new€hearing€is€required€or€whether€the€Judge€can€rely€on€theÐ L œ Ðtranscript€of€the€original€hearing.ðð€€Ô_ÔISCRÔ_Ô€Case€No.€12„10335€at€3€(App.€Bd.€Jul.€21,€2017).€€On€JulyÐ 8 ˆ Ð31,€2017,€the€Judge€inquired€through€Department€Counsel€whether€Applicant€requested€a€newÐ $ t Ðhearing.€€By€email€dated€August€3,€2017,€Applicant€replied€as€follows:Ð  ` ÐÌà8  àWe€believe€that€the€additional€documents€and€the€testimony€and€evidence€adducedÐ è 8  Ð[at€the€original€hearing]€is€sufficient€.€.€.€That€said€.€.€.€if€your€Honor€believes€that€thisÐ Ô$  Ðcase€will€turn€on€a€subjective€assessment€of€[Applicantððs]€credibility,€sincerity,Ð À  Ðhonesty,€loyalty,€or€dependability€under€the€whole„person€concept,€we€believe€itÐ ¬ü  Ðwould€be€fitting€and€proper€for€your€Honor€to€hear€live€testimony€from€[Applicant]Ð ˜è  Ðdirectly.€€Hearing€Exhibit€5.Ð„Ô Ð Ð  ÐÌAccordingly,€the€Judge€decided€the€case€on€the€existing€record€as€supplemented€by€ApplicantððsÐ \¬ Ðadditional€documentary€evidence.Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àApplicant€now€contends€that€the€Judge€erred€by€not€convening€a€hearing.€€€He€argues€that€theÐ  p ÐJudgeððs€adverse€decision€includes€an€implicit€negative€credibility€determination,€which€he€shouldÐ  \ Ðnot€have€performed€without€personally€observing€Applicant€and€hearing€him€testify.€€He€states€thatÐ øH Ðan€evaluation€of€his€credibility€and€his€live€testimony€were€crucial€to€a€proper€resolution€of€the€caseÐ ä4 Ðand€that€under€the€circumstances€the€Judge€decided€the€case€without€all€of€the€evidence.€€Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àAs€Department€Counsel€observes€in€his€Reply€Brief,€Applicant€was€given€an€opportunity€toÐ ¨ø Ðrequest€a€hearing€and€clearly€responded€that€as€far€as€he€was€concerned€the€documentary€record€wasÐ ”ä Ðsufficient.€€There€was€no€ambiguity€in€this€response,€which€placed€the€Judge€on€notice€that€ApplicantÐ €Ð Ðhad€no€objection€to€his€consideration€of€the€existing€transcript.€€In€any€event,€as€Department€CounselÐ l¼ Ðargues,€forum€choice€is€a€responsibility€of€the€parties,€not€of€the€Judge.€€òòSeeóó€Directive€ðððð€E3.1.4;Ð X ¨ ÐE3.1.7;€E3.1.8.€€Moreover,€if€Applicant€believed€that€a€full€and€complete€understanding€of€hisÐ D!” Ðcircumstances€required€his€live€testimony,€it€was€his€duty€to€request€a€hearing.€€In€a€DOHAÐ 0"€  Ðproceeding,€it€is€the€applicantððs€job€to€present€evidence€in€mitigation€of€the€concerns€raised€in€anÐ #l! ÐÔ_ÔSORÔ_Ô.€€Directive€ðð€E3.1.15.€€The€Judge€is€an€advocate€for€neither€side€and€bases€his€Decision€on€theÐ $X" Ðevidence€presented€to€him€by€the€parties.€€He€has€no€independent€duty€to€obtain€additional€evidence.€Ð ô$D # ÐòòSee,€e.g.óó,€Ô_ÔISCRÔ_Ô€Case€No.€14„01925€at€3€(App.€Bd.€Jun.€26,€2015).€We€conclude€that€ApplicantÐ à%0!$ Ðwaived€any€right€he€had€to€a€second€hearing.€€Applicant€was€not€denied€the€due€process€afforded€byÐ Ì&"% Ðthe€Directive.€€€€€Ð ¸'#& ÐÌà  àTo€the€extent€that€Applicant€is€challenging€a€purported€credibility€determination,€the€JudgeÐ )à$( Ðdoes€not€appear€to€have€made€one.€€In€fact,€he€made€findings€about€the€favorable€character€testimonyÐ |*Ì%) Ðof€Applicantððs€witnesses,€and€he€addressed€that€testimony€in€his€analysis.€€Nowhere€in€the€DecisionÐ h+¸&* Ðdoes€he€express€a€view€of€Applicantððs€character€or€credibility€contrary€to€the€opinions€of€theseÐ T,¤'+ Ðwitnesses.€The€mere€fact€that€a€Judge€has€entered€an€adverse€decision€does€not€mean€that€he€foundÐ ° Ðthe€applicant€to€be€lacking€in€credibility.€€It€is€not€inconsistent€for€a€Judge€to€find€an€applicant€to€beÐ œì Ðhonest€and€believable€but,€nevertheless,€reasonably€to€conclude€that€the€applicantððs€presentation€isÐ ˆØ Ðnot€sufficient€to€meet€his€or€her€burden€of€persuasion€as€to€mitigation.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€Ô_ÔISCRÔ_Ô€Case€No.€14„Ð tÄ Ð05795€at€2€(App.€Bd.€Apr.€26,€2016).Ð `° ÐÌà  àApplicant€argues€that€the€Judgeððs€findings€of€fact€contain€errors.€€For€example,€he€argues€thatÐ 8 ˆ Ðthe€Judge€erred€in€finding€that€he€still€owes€about€$30,000€in€taxes.€€The€Judge€based€this€findingÐ $ t Ðupon€Applicantððs€own€evidence,€a€letter€from€his€CPA,€which€avers€a€$37,000€debt€to€Federal,€state,Ð  ` Ðand€local€tax€authorities.€€Applicant€Exhibit€Q,€dated€August€24,€2017.€€The€Judge€credited€ApplicantÐ ü L  Ðwith€a€$7,300€payment€for€tax€year€2011,€of€which€he€thought€the€CPA€may€have€been€unaware,Ð è 8  Ðreducing€the€amount€accordingly.€€Decision€at€6.€€Even€if€the€Judge€erred€in€determining€the€amountÐ Ô$  Ðof€Applicantððs€tax€debt€as€of€the€closure€of€the€record€upon€remand,€it€did€not€likely€affect€theÐ À  Ðoutcome€of€the€case.€€His€analysis€relied€in€large€measure€not€upon€the€precise€amount€of€such€debtÐ ¬ü  Ðbut,€rather,€upon€the€dilatory€nature€of€Applicantððs€efforts€to€address€his€tax€problem.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€€òòSeeóó€Ô_ÔISCRÔ_ÔÐ ˜è  ÐCase€No.€15„03778€at€3€(App.€Bd.€Aug.€4,€2017)€for€the€proposition€that€timing€of€debt€paymentsÐ „Ô  Ðis€relevant€in€evaluating€an€applicantððs€case€for€mitigation.€€€€€Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àApplicant€challenges€the€Judgeððs€finding€that€he€is€responsible€for€the€debt€to€the€law€firm.€Ð H˜ ÐWe€note€evidence€that€the€firm€holds€Applicant€responsible€for€the€debt€(òòsee€óónote€2,€òòsupraóó)€and€thatÐ 4„ Ðit€appears€as€his€liability€on€a€credit€report.€€The€contents€of€a€credit€report€are€normally€sufficientÐ  p Ðto€meet€the€substantial€evidence€standard€for€allegations€of€indebtedness.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€Ô_ÔISCRÔ_Ô€Case€No.Ð  \ Ð14„03612€at€3€(App.€Bd.€Aug.€25,€2015).€€The€Judgeððs€finding€is€a€reasonable€interpretation€of€theÐ øH Ðevidence.€€In€any€event,€Applicant€admitted€that€he€signed€the€contract€with€this€law€firm€on€behalfÐ ä4 Ðof€the€company.€€Tr.€at€121.€€Business„related€debts€can€have€a€bearing€upon€the€judgment€andÐ Ð  Ðreliability€of€company€officials€who€incurred€them.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€Ô_ÔISCRÔ_Ô€Case€No.€14„01231€at€4€(App.Ð ¼  ÐBd.€Feb.€10,€2015).€€Therefore,€even€if€the€Judgeððs€finding€was€erroneous,€he€could€still€reasonablyÐ ¨ø Ðhave€found€that€the€totality€of€circumstances€underlying€it€raised€concerns€about€ApplicantððsÐ ”ä Ðjudgment.€€Accordingly,€any€error€did€not€likely€affect€the€overall€outcome€of€the€case.€€ApplicantÐ €Ð Ðhas€cited€to€no€harmful€error€in€the€Judgeððs€findings.€€The€Judgeððs€material€findings€of€securityÐ l¼ Ðconcern€are€based€upon€substantial€evidence€or€constitute€reasonable€inferences€that€could€be€drawnÐ X ¨ Ðfrom€the€evidence.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€Ô_ÔISCRÔ_Ô€Case€No.€16„00276€at€4€(App.€Bd.€Oct.€30,€2017).Ð D!” ÐÌà  àThe€balance€of€Applicantððs€brief€is€a€challenge€to€the€Judgeððs€weighing€of€the€evidence.€Ð #l! ÐAmong€other€things,€he€argues€that€the€Judge€should€have€extended€greater€weight€to€evidence€ofÐ $X" ÐApplicantððs€personal€circumstances.€€However,€we€find€no€reason€to€conclude€that€the€Judge€weighedÐ ô$D # Ðthe€evidence€in€a€manner€that€was€arbitrary,€capricious,€or€contrary€to€law.€€òò€See,€e.g.óó,€Ô_ÔISCRÔ_Ô€Case€No.Ð à%0!$ Ð15„08711€at€3€(App.€Bd.€Aug.€24,€2017).€€The€Judge€examined€the€relevant€evidence€and€articulatedÐ Ì&"% Ða€satisfactory€explanation€for€the€decision,€both€as€to€the€mitigating€conditions€and€the€whole„personÐ ¸'#& Ðfactors.€€A€person€who€fails€repeatedly€to€fulfill€his€or€her€legal€obligations,€such€as€filing€tax€returnsÐ ° Ðand€paying€taxes€when€due,€does€not€demonstrate€the€high€degree€of€good€judgment€and€reliabilityÐ œì Ðrequired€of€those€granted€access€to€classified€information.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€Ô_ÔISCRÔ_Ô€Case€No.€15„06707€at€3Ð ˆØ Ð(App.€Bd.€Aug.€15,€2017).òò€€óóThe€decision€is€sustainable€on€this€record.€€ð ðThe€general€standard€is€thatÐ tÄ Ða€clearance€may€be€granted€only€when€ððclearly€consistent€with€the€interests€of€the€national€security.ðððð€Ð `° ÐòòDepartment€of€the€Navy€v.€Eganóó,€484€U.S.€518,€528€(1988).€€òòSee€alsoóó€Directive,€Encl.€2,€App.€A€ððÐ L œ Ð2(b):€€ð ðAny€doubt€concerning€personnel€being€considered€for€national€security€eligibility€will€beÐ 8 ˆ Ðresolved€in€favor€of€the€national€security.ððÐ  $ t ÐÌÌà@ââ(ìàò òOrderó óˆÐ ˆØ ÐÌà  àThe€Decision€is€ò òAFFIRMEDó ó.€€Ð `° Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àÔ‡Xè XXXè ÔÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€Michael€Y.€Ô_ÔRaððananÔ_Ô€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ  d Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMichael€Y.€Ô_ÔRaððananÔ_ÔÐ  P  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAdministrative€JudgeÐ ì <  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àChairperson,€Appeal€BoardÐ Ø(  ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€James€E.€Moody€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ ˆØ  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àJames€E.€MoodyÐ tÄ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAdministrative€JudgeÐ `° Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMember,€Appeal€BoardÐ Lœ ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€James€F.€Duffy€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ üL Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àJames€F.€DuffyÐ è8 Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAdministrative€JudgeÐ Ô$ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMember,€Appeal€Ô_ÔBoardÔ#†Xè XXXè ’O#ÔÔ_ÔÐ À Ðà  àÌÌà  à€Ð „Ô Ѐ€€€Ð pÀ ÐÌà  à€€Ð H!˜ ÐÌÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_Ô