ÿWPCH ã]ÐZu„^¤Hÿ‘µ›õ›W…d”K1ÞÝ»ÖL2ø½$CJ/ˆ”ˆe Nkû'â{‚ê¨[PØ%Ê¿ ¦Ð½g³¸mìH­ñ¢½¢î-ÿî¡)¿èºÑ÷*©&\eI‰]y>Ì혂œ8ém¶šZãVñIä©V1o–ÓÍy¨º©û4¡üz¾š£F=àAñ“}ËÉÑÁ©2ZE|/‡‡*£EÆÖ÷=eS£ôêDwgÆ›ÜÌÛ¤C™½Oô¨8bzÉ›Á˜¥šµ¥Vš§aŽGO‹hœy×V„_¹×äìdíÅǽfìZÃÿý5 s%›ïn)>Ûivq:åaKÂë Úô¾cÝ”°I.7ߨ5ó­%` ù&ª×c%Ó\$ó[ƒØ°ÞŽ‘h÷ÞŒ)ó˼G#„²n =oUPÁåG9îTq-«)ßýGaÎ/mâ"û¬ìyy@=ê¼;¿DPq»ØÈõ²š?˜z»"”‘µtöîÕücØîíþF7(It¾‘FPá[Ú¸T²ƒ|hsjf~7öþ‰&ka`Ñi$uRãn±ÿ5W7‡5š²•ƒ€Ò³N֞d·¦ Ðhhbü SïkÿãUFÜ‹¼¢#ƒ‹'§Ï¾0°Ì“çù€”…åW#ÉÂUN‹ %Ù 0:ß àZ ^ s w 4ƒ — ¦ m¨ 0©¿ bh El l 0Dn n °² ² 0Nb A° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° :ññññññññññññññññññññññññññññññññññññññññññññññññññ B+˜Hewlett-Packard HP LaserJet P3010 SeriesÈÈÈÈ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô8DocumentManagement::ModifiedBooleanTRUEg¤šKÌbŽKntFold3|xÿU‹ÿÿÿÿ(Y(2ÏX$¤¤Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ‡ôI–òXXÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó ù(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó ¦Ý ƒ ÏX$ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÔ€ô¸òXXÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔDirecitveÔ_Ô,€Encl.€2,€App€A.€ðð€20(g)€states,€ð ðthe€individual€has€made€an€arrangement€with€the€appropriate€taxÐ ° Ðauthority€to€file€or€pay€the€amount€owed€and€is€in€compliance€with€those€arrangements.ððÐ tÄ Ð(ÍO$——ÔÿÔòòóóÔÿÔ 7Ý ƒ ÏX$ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÔ€ô¸òXXÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€IRS€advises€individuals€to€file€prior€Federal€income€tax€returns€regardless€of€their€reasons€for€not€having€filedÐ ° Ða€required€return.òò€€Seeóó,€Ô4‚$Ý “ ÔÝ‚ÍOÝÔÿÔòòÝ  ÝÔ5  Ôhttps://www.irs.gov/taxtopic/tc153Ô66ÔÝ‚ÍOJƒÝóóÔÿÔÝ  ÝÔ7Ý •xÔ€„€Topic€Number€153€„What€to€Do€if€You€Havenððt€Filed€YourÐ tÄ ÐTax€Return.€€Topic€Number€153€also€states€that€ð ðthe€statute€of€limitation€for€the€IRS€to€assess€and€collect€any€outstandingÐ 8ˆ Ðbalances€doesnððt€start€until€a€return€has€been€filed.ðð€Ð üL  Ðhttps://www.irs.gov/taxtopic dÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔKEYWORD:€Guideline€FÐ ° ÐÌDIGEST:€Failure€to€comply€with€Federal€tax€laws€suggests€that€an€applicant€has€a€problem€withÐ ˆØ Ðabiding€by€well„established€government€rules€and€regulations.€€Voluntary€compliance€with€rulesÐ tÄ Ðand€regulations€is€essential€for€protecting€classified€information.€€Applicant€failed€to€file€hisÐ `° ÐFederal€income€tax€returns€for€a€nine€year€period€in€a€timely€manner.€€These€failures€raiseÐ L œ Ðquestions€about€Applicant€judgment€and€reliability.€Much€of€the€Judgeððs€mitigation€analysis€isÐ 8 ˆ Ðpredicated€upon€his€conclusion€that€Applicant€has€resolved€his€tax€filing€problems€and€owes€noÐ $ t Ðback€taxes€for€year€2009€through€2014.€€The€record€does€support€such€a€conclusion.€€FavorableÐ  ` Ðdecision€reversed.Ð ü L  ÐÌÔ_ÔCASENOÔ_Ô:€15„06440Ð Ô$  ÐÌDATE:€12/26/2017Ð ¬ü  ÐÌÔ_ÔÐ „Ô  ÐÑTRXì3Ø' LetterheadXà3Ø' Letter3Ø'Letterÿ3Ø'LetterTÑÑ€ ÑÑ8€¸òòdÄdÈ8ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àDATE:€December€26,€2017Ð $ t ÐÌÌÌÒ.؉ð7r°(#°(#.ÒßA€V) °°xdE°ÓgAßÐ Ô$  ÐÌIn€Re:Ð Ï  ÐÌà  à„„„„„„„„„Ìà  àÌÌApplicant€for€Security€ClearanceÐ k» ÐÌßA€V) °°xdE°BgAßÐ C“ Ð)Ð Ô$  Ð)Ð À  Ð)Ð ¬ü  Ð)Ð ˜è  Ð)Ð „Ô  Ð)Ð pÀ Ð)Ð \¬ Ð)Ð H˜ ÐÐ 4„ ÐÓp°œXÓÌÌÌà p àISCR€Case€No.€15„06440Ð ˜è  ÐÐ „Ô  ÐÒ.؉ð7r°°.ÒÓ °\X›XpÓÐ  \  Ðò òÓ  ÓAPPEAL€BOARD€DECISIONÐ øH! ÐÌÌòòAPPEARANCESóóÐ ¼ $ Ðó óÌÔ‡&àÿ%XXÔò òFOR€GOVERNMENTó óÐ ”ä& ÐJohn€Bayard€Glendon,€Esq.,€Deputy€Chief€Department€CounselÐ l¼' ÐÌò òFOR€APPLICANTó óÐ  l) Ðò òòòPro€seóóó óÔ#†XôlX%&àÿ× #ÔÐ ô D* ÐÌÌÌÌÌÓ  Óà  àThe€Department€of€Defense€(DoD)€declined€to€grant€Applicant€a€security€clearance.€€OnÐ f&¶!0 ÐFebruary€28,€2016,€DoD€issued€a€statement€of€reasons€(SOR)€advising€Applicant€of€the€basis€for€thatÐ R'¢"1 Ðdecisionð!ðsecurity€concerns€raised€under€Guideline€F€(Financial€Considerations)€of€Department€ofÐ >(Ž#2 ÐDefense€Directive€5220.6€(Jan.€2,€1992,€as€amended)€(Directive).€€Applicant€requested€a€hearing.€Ð *)z$3 ÐOn€August€11,€2017,€after€the€hearing,€Defense€Office€of€Hearings€and€Appeals€(DOHA)Ð *f%4 ÐAdministrative€Judge€Robert€Tuider€granted€Applicantððs€request€for€a€security€clearance.€Ð +R&5 ÐDepartment€Counsel€appealed€pursuant€to€Directive€ðððð€E3.1.28€and€E3.1.30.Ð î+>'6 Ðâ âà  àà ` àÐ Ú,*(7 Ðà  àDepartment€Counsel€raised€the€following€issue€on€appeal:€€whether€the€Judgeððs€decision€wasÐ ° Ðâ âarbitrary,€capricious,€or€contrary€to€law.€€Consistent€with€the€following,€we€reverse.Ð œì Ðà  àÌÌà  àò òThe€Judgeððs€Findings€of€Fact€ó ó€Ð `° ÐÌà  àThe€sole€SOR€allegation,€as€amended,€asserted€that€Applicant€failed€to€file€his€FederalÐ < Œ Ðincome€tax€returns€for€2005€through€2014.€€Evidence€presented€at€hearing€established€the€SORÐ ( x Ðallegation.€€Applicant€claimed€that€he€did€not€file€his€income€tax€returns€because€his€pay€was€subjectÐ  d Ðto€maximum€tax€withholdings,€and€he€owed€no€further€taxes€for€the€years€in€question.€€He€believedÐ  P  Ðthat,€because€he€was€owed€a€refund,€he€was€not€required€to€file.€€The€Judge€found€ApplicantððsÐ ì <  Ðtestimony€credible.€€When€informed€that€he€was€required€to€file€Federal€income€tax€returns,€he€tookÐ Ø(  Ðimmediate€corrective€action.€€He€hired€an€accountant€and€filed€all€the€required€tax€returns.€€HeÐ Ä  Ðoffered€into€evidence€his€2009„2015€Federal€income€tax€returns€that€reflect€he€qualified€for€a€refundÐ °  Ðfor€each€of€those€years.€€He€is€now€current€on€his€Federal€income€tax€obligations.Ð œì  Ðà  àÌà  àò òThe€Judgeððs€Analysisó óÐ tÄ Ðà  àÌà  àIn€his€analysis,€the€Judge€discussed€a€number€of€Appeal€Board€decisions€that€address€taxÐ Lœ Ðfiling€deficiencies.€€He€noted€that€new€adjudicative€guidelines€became€effective€in€June€2017.€€HeÐ 8ˆ Ðconcluded€Applicant€made€arrangements€with€the€Federal€Government€in€2016€to€file€all€requiredÐ $t Ðtax€returns€and€is€in€compliance€with€those€arrangements.€€He€further€indicated€that€there€wasÐ ` Ðsufficient€assurance€that€Applicantððs€financial€problems€are€resolved,€are€under€control,€and€areÐ üL Ðunlikely€to€recur.€€Ð è8 ÐÌà  àò òDiscussionó óÐ À Ðà  àÌà  àA€Judge€is€required€to€ð ðexamine€the€relevant€data€and€articulate€a€satisfactory€explanationÐ ˜è Ðforðð€the€decision,€ð ðincluding€a€ððrational€connection€between€the€facts€found€and€the€choice€made.ððððÐ „Ô ÐòòMotor€Vehicle€Mfrs.€Assððn€of€the€United€States€v.€State€Farm€Mut.€Auto€Ins.€Co.óó,€463€U.S.€29,€43Ð pÀ Ð(1983)(quoting€òòBurlington€Truck€Lines,€Inc.€v.€United€Statesóó,€371,€U.S.€156,€168€(1962)).€€ð ðTheÐ \ ¬ Ðgeneral€standard€is€that€a€clearance€may€be€granted€only€when€ððclearly€consistent€with€the€interestsÐ H!˜ Ðof€the€national€security.ðððð€€€òòDepartment€of€the€Navy€v.€Eganóó,€484€U.S.€518,€528€(1988).€€ð ðAny€doubt€Ð 4"„  Ðconcerning€personnel€being€considered€for€access€to€classified€information€will€be€resolved€in€favorÐ  #p! Ðof€the€national€security.ðð€€Directive,€Enclosure€2€ðð€2(b).€€The€Appeal€Board€may€reverse€the€JudgeððsÐ  $\" Ðdecision€to€grant,€deny,€or€revoke€a€security€clearance€if€it€is€arbitrary,€capricious,€or€contrary€to€law.€Ð ø$H # ÐDirective€ðððð€E3.1.32.3€and€E3.1.33.3.Ð ä%4!$ ÐÌà  àThere€is€a€strong€presumption€against€the€grant€or€maintenance€of€a€security€clearance.€€òòSeeóóÐ ¼' #& ÐòòDorfmont€v.€Brownóó,€913€F.€2d€1399,€1401€(9òòthóó€Cir.€1990),€òòcert.€denied,€óó499€U.S.€905€(1991).€€AfterÐ ¨(ø#' Ðthe€Government€presents€evidence€raising€security€concerns,€the€burden€shifts€to€the€applicant€toÐ ”)ä$( Ðrebut€or€mitigate€those€concerns.€€òòSeeóó€Directive€ðð€E3.1.15.€€ð ðThe€application€of€disqualifying€andÐ €*Ð%) Ðmitigating€conditions€and€whole€person€factors€does€not€turn€simply€on€a€finding€that€one€or€moreÐ l+¼&* Ðof€them€apply€to€the€particular€facts€of€a€case.€€Rather,€their€application€requires€the€exercise€ofÐ X,¨'+ Ðsound€discretion€in€light€of€the€record€evidence€as€a€whole.ðð€€òòSee,€e.g.,óó€ISCR€Case€No.€05„03635€atÐ ° Ð3€(App.€Bd.€Dec.€20,€2006).Ð œì ÐÌà  àIn€deciding€whether€the€Judgeððs€rulings€or€conclusions€are€erroneous,€we€will€review€theÐ tÄ ÐJudgeððs€decision€to€determine€whether:€€it€does€not€examine€relevant€evidence;€it€fails€to€articulateÐ `° Ða€satisfactory€explanation€for€its€conclusions,€including€a€rational€connection€between€the€facts€foundÐ L œ Ðand€the€choice€made;€it€does€not€consider€relevant€factors;€it€reflects€a€clear€error€of€judgment;€it€failsÐ 8 ˆ Ðto€consider€an€important€aspect€of€the€case;€it€offers€an€explanation€for€the€decision€that€runs€contraryÐ $ t Ðto€the€record€evidence;€or€it€is€so€implausible€that€it€cannot€be€ascribed€to€a€mere€difference€ofÐ  ` Ðopinion.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€ISCR€Case€No.€14„02563€at€3„4€(App.€Bd.€Aug.€28,€2015).Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àDepartment€Counsel€argues€that€the€record€in€this€case€does€not€support€the€Judgeððs€favorableÐ Ô$  Ðmitigation€analysis.€€He€also€contends€that€Judgeððs€credibility€assessment€is€inconsistent€with€theÐ À  Ðrecord€evidence.€€Department€Counselððs€arguments€have€merit.€Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àSecurity€requirements€include€consideration€of€a€personððs€judgment,€reliability,€and€a€senseÐ „Ô  Ðof€his€or€her€legal€obligations.€€òòCafeteria€&€Restaurant€Workers€Union,€Local€473€v.€McElroyóó,€284Ð pÀ ÐF.2d€173,€183€(D.C.€Cir.€1960),€òòaffððdóó,€367€U.S.€886€(1961).€€Failure€to€comply€with€Federal€tax€lawsÐ \¬ Ðsuggests€that€an€applicant€has€a€problem€with€abiding€by€well„established€government€rules€andÐ H˜ Ðregulations.€€Voluntary€compliance€with€rules€and€regulations€is€essential€for€protecting€classifiedÐ 4„ Ðinformation.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€ISCR€Case€No.€14„04437€at€3€(App.€Bd.€Apr.€15,€2016).€€In€this€case,Ð  p ÐApplicant€failed€to€file€his€Federal€income€tax€returns€for€a€nine€year€period€in€a€timely€manner.€Ð  \ ÐThese€failures€to€comply€with€Federal€tax€laws€raise€questions€about€whether€Applicant€hasÐ øH Ðdemonstrated€the€high€degree€of€judgment€and€reliability€that€is€required€for€granting€an€individualÐ ä4 Ðaccess€to€classified€information.€òò€Id.óóÐ Ð  Ðà  àÌà  àMuch€of€the€Judgeððs€mitigation€analysis€is€predicated€upon€his€conclusion€that€Applicant€hasÐ ¨ø Ðresolved€his€tax€filing€problems€and€did€not€owe€any€back€taxes€for€2009€through€2014.€€DepartmentÐ ”ä ÐCounsel€argues€the€Judge€erred€in€his€analysis€of€mitigating€condition€20(g).׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€In€doing€so,€Ð €Ð ÐDepartment€Counsel€notes€that€Applicant€presented€no€proof€that€he€filed€his€Federal€income€taxÐ l¼ Ðreturns€for€2005„2008.€€Applicant€did€not€contact€the€Internal€Revenue€Service€(IRS)€directly€toÐ X ¨ Ðverify€that€he€did€not€have€to€file€his€tax€returns€for€those€years,€but€instead€relied€upon€a€causalÐ D!” Ðconversation€with€an€acquaintance€in€concluding€he€only€needed€to€file€his€tax€returns€for€theÐ 0"€  Ðprevious€seven€years.€€Applicant€testified€the€causal€conversation€was€ð ð[w]ith€a€friend€of€a€friendððsÐ #l! Ðwife€who€works€at€an€investigative€branch€of€the€Internal€Revenue€Service.ðð€Tr.€at€29„30.׃Ü×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€TheÐ $X" ÐJudge€erred€in€finding€Applicant€filed€all€required€tax€returns.€€Applicantððs€testimony€falls€short€ofÐ ° Ðproviding€substantial€evidence€to€support€the€finding€that€all€required€tax€returns€were€filed.€€òòSee,Ð œì Ðe.g.óó,€ISCR€Case€No.€96„0897€at€2„3€(App.€Bd.€Dec.€9,€1997).€€òòóóAdditionally,€Department€CounselÐ ˆØ Ðquestions€how€Applicant€could€have€known€he€did€not€owe€any€taxes€in€any€particular€year.€Ð tÄ ÐApplicant€engaged€in€a€side€business€that€generated€income€ranging€from€about€$3,700€to€$4,400€forÐ `° Ð2012,€2013,€and€2015€and€he€qualified€for€tax€refunds€in€those€years€that€ranged€from€about€$980Ð L œ Ðto€$1,130.€€Applicantððs€Exhibits€(AE)€H„K€and€N.€Considering€Applicantððs€extra€income€from€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðside€business€and€the€relatively€small€amount€of€his€tax€refunds,€Department€Counsel€persuasivelyÐ $ t Ðargues€that€it€would€have€been€difficult€for€Applicant€to€have€known€that€he€qualified€for€a€refundÐ  ` Ðin€a€particular€year€without€preparing€his€tax€return€for€that€year.€€Yet,€the€Judge€failed€to€explainÐ ü L  Ðadequately€how€Applicant€knew€he€always€qualified€for€a€tax€refund.€€Such€shortcomings€in€theÐ è 8  Ðdecision€undermine€the€Judgeððs€mitigation€analysis.€Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àAdditionally,€Department€Counsel€argues€the€timing€of€the€resolution€of€Applicantððs€taxÐ ¬ü  Ðfiling€problems€is€relevant€in€determining€the€extent€to€which€he€has€demonstrated€mitigation.€€òòSee,Ð ˜è  Ðe.g.óó,€ISCR€Case€No.€14„05476€at€4€(App.€Bd.€€Mar.€25,€2016).€€Department€Counsel€noted€thatÐ „Ô  ÐApplicant€only€filed€one€of€the€Federal€income€tax€returns€in€question€(2014)€before€receipt€of€theÐ pÀ ÐSOR.€€This€filing€occurred€after€Applicant€submitted€his€security€clearance€application€(SCA)€andÐ \¬ Ðunderwent€his€background€interview.€€He€filed€his€Federal€income€tax€returns€for€2009„2013€afterÐ H˜ Ðhe€received€the€SOR.€€The€timing€of€the€resolution€of€financial€problems€is€an€important€factor€inÐ 4„ Ðevaluating€an€applicantððs€case€for€mitigation€because€an€applicant€who€begins€to€resolve€financialÐ  p Ðproblems€only€after€being€placed€on€notice€that€his€clearance€was€in€jeopardy€may€lack€the€judgmentÐ  \ Ðand€self„discipline€to€follow€rules€and€regulations€over€time€or€when€there€is€no€immediate€threat€toÐ øH Ðhis€own€interests.€€In€this€case,€Applicantððs€filing€of€his€Federal€income€tax€returns€for€2009„2014Ð ä4 Ðafter€submitting€his€SCA,€undergoing€his€background€interview,€or€receiving€the€SOR€undercuts€theÐ Ð  Ðweight€such€remedial€action€might€otherwise€meritòò.€€óóOverall,€the€Judgeððs€favorable€mitigationÐ ¼  Ðdetermination€runs€contrary€to€the€weight€of€the€record€evidence€and€is€not€sustainable.Ð ¨ø ÐÌà  àDepartment€Counsel€further€contends€the€Judge€erred€in€accepting€as€credible€ApplicantððsÐ €Ð Ðexplanation€that€he€believed€he€was€not€required€to€file€annual€income€tax€returns.€€Specifically,Ð l¼ ÐDepartment€Counsel€highlights€matters€the€Judge€failed€to€discuss€in€the€decision€that€raise€questionsÐ X ¨ Ðabout€whether€Applicant€was€forthcoming€about€his€tax€filing€deficiencies.€€First,€in€his€securityÐ D!” Ðclearance€application€(SCA)€submitted€in€November€2014,€Applicant€was€asked€whether€he€failedÐ 0"€  Ðto€file€his€Federal€income€tax€returns€in€the€last€seven€years.€€Applicant€responded€to€that€questionÐ #l! Ðby€disclosing€only€his€failure€to€file€his€2013€tax€return.€€Government€Exhibit€(GE)€1€at€26.€€It€isÐ $X" Ðunknown€why€Applicant€would€disclose€his€failure€to€file€for€2013,€but€not€for€the€other€six€yearsÐ ô$D # Ðcovered€in€that€SCA€question.€€Next,€in€his€background€interview€in€April€2015,€Applicant€disclosedÐ à%0!$ Ðthat€he€also€did€not€file€his€Federal€income€tax€return€for€2014€and€ð ðpossibly€other€years.ðð€€GE€2.€Ð Ì&"% ÐAt€the€hearing,€Applicant€admitted€that€he€had€not€filed€his€Federal€income€tax€returns€for€at€leastÐ ¸'#& Ðthe€ten€years€prior€to€his€receipt€of€the€SOR,€and€he€could€not€remember€when€he€last€filed€a€taxÐ ¤(ô#' Ðreturn.€€Tr.€at€27„28,€44„46.€€Applicantððs€responses€in€his€SCA€and€during€his€background€interviewÐ )à$( Ðraise€questions€about€whether€he€was€forthcoming€€during€the€investigative€process.€€While€the€BoardÐ ° Ðgives€deference€to€a€Judgeððs€credibility€determinations,€that€deference€is€not€without€limits.€€Where,Ð œì Ðas€here,€the€record€contains€a€basis€to€question€an€applicantððs€candor,€the€Judge€should€address€thoseÐ ˆØ Ðaspects€of€the€record€explicitly,€explaining€why€he€or€she€finds€an€applicantððs€version€of€events€toÐ tÄ Ðbe€worthy€of€belief.€€Failure€to€do€so€suggests€that€the€Judge€has€merely€substituted€a€favorableÐ `° Ðimpression€of€Applicantððs€demeanor€for€record€evidence.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€ISCR€Case€No.€07„10158€at€5Ð L œ Ð(App.€Bd.€Aug.€28,€2008).€€òòóóA€Judgeððs€credibility€determination€can€be€rejected€if€it€ð ðis€unreasonable,Ð 8 ˆ Ðcontradicts€other€findings€of€fact,€or€is€ððbased€on€an€inadequate€reason,€or€on€no€reason€at€all.ðððð€òòÐ $ t ÐFieldcrest€Cannon,€Inc.€v.€NLRBóó,€97€F.3rd.€65,€at€69„70€(4òòthóó€Cir.€1996),€citing€òòNLRB€v.€McCulloughÐ  ` ÐEnvironmental€Services,€Inc.óó€5€F.3d€923,€928€(5òòthóó€Cir.€1993).Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àWe€conclude€that€the€Judgeððs€decision€failed€to€consider€important€aspects€of€the€case€andÐ Ô$  Ðimproperly€relied€on€a€credibility€assessment€in€place€of€record€evidence.€€The€decision€ran€contraryÐ À  Ðto€the€weight€of€the€record€evidence.€€Furthermore,€we€conclude€that€the€record€evidence,€viewedÐ ¬ü  Ðas€a€whole,€is€not€sufficient€to€mitigate€the€Governmentððs€security€concerns€under€the€òòEgan€óóstandard.€Ð ˜è  ÐÔ_ÔÐ  „Ô  Ðà@ââ(ìàò òOrderó óˆÐ ° Ðà  àÌà  àThe€Decision€is€ò òREVERSEDó ó.€€Ð ˆØ ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€Michael€Ô_ÔRaððananÔ_Ô€€€€€€€€€óóÐ < Œ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMichael€Ô_ÔRaððananÔ_ÔÐ ( x Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAdministrative€JudgeÐ  d Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àChairperson,€Appeal€BoardÐ  P  ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€James€E.€Moody€€€€€€€€€óóÐ °  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àJames€E.€MoodyÐ œì  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAdministrative€JudgeÐ ˆØ  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMember,€Appeal€BoardÐ tÄ ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€James€F.€Duffy€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ $t Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àJames€F.€DuffyÐ ` Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAdministrative€JudgeÐ üL Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMember,€Appeal€Board