ÿWPC‡ wH'o‰l²S–2ÚKT° ñ+ËoŒÊM¾ï5Ò_ºÏü/Ø›§ JÓ±ÀK°×໋&yåN¦%ÄõT`K§:þ Õx0@e²2ž$]½lNÉáÁ“œ‰dV*â™Q’뎥,’ÓÌmÀ€%ìºÌ­+€Ñ¥U-† ‹«?3$¸pk²î³—_ù Ö¢Þ6`ou®›†|ñªyè$_¦·WÞíÎ æDy£ˆY0쾃ٻßHÐÝ뽌¬0‡šá~Ñ¥H+ŽTq+±ËYæÅ!9Huß)…µý“x"‚ÞÅtöÒ#4£hU}\¨/ã3&MDæyÛ±ã3jiCåÁ)Õ˜[+"6žÏ>½/Ç“eìÞM J0óhÿ& !þmzL`“Þi&ÌØ×&Ü/Ïd7Þ, %C¸„?Ź¸ß«z@7 jt‘Ù<'I™iL¤¼*YO\ð’YîCçJf€Ô}Îßκjc¦ò‰c+ÆãaôWÌC†˜}«Jªßå×ìý´a:.zEmn[h¤ãR…#Ê£wbOa‰ÎµãÂ@¹è¸D×Wt‘Ó—‘qd .¼ÝE—°}¾Zssa¶Õ|ã}¨7 RÔè1S×7 h¿Þ±›Ñ,zåW#ÉÂUN‹ %Ù 0:ß ^  w% 4) = L mN àZe N¿ ¿ àZÁ 0Š 0D¥ Eé ¶ë ÿ¡Ê                                                                   Bj˜Hewlett-Packard HP LaserJet P3010 SeriesÈÈÈÈ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,ÔؘüJ;E•J3|xÿU‹ÿÿÿÿ8DocumentManagement::ModifiedBooleanTRUE8DocumentManagement::ModifiedBooleanTRUE(:(2x«$¤¤Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó ¬Ý ƒx«$ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ôXòXXÔ€We€examine€a€Judgeððs€findings€to€see€if€they€are€supported€by€substantial€evidence,€òòi.e.óó,€ð ðsuch€relevantÐ ° Ðevidence€as€a€reasonable€mind€might€accept€as€adequate€to€support€a€conclusion€in€light€of€all€the€contrary€evidence€inÐ tÄ Ðthe€same€record.ðð€€Directive€ðð€E3.1.32.1.€€òòSee,€e.g.,óó€Ô_ÔISCRÔ_Ô€Case€No.€14„04226€at€3€(App.€Bd.€Aug.€18,€2015)€and€Ô_ÔISCRÔ_ÔÐ 8ˆ ÐCase€No.€12„03420€at€3€(App.€Bd.€Jul.€25,€2014).€€ õÝ ƒx«$ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ôXòXXÔ€We€note€that€an€applicant€with€family€members€in€a€country€that€is€hostile€to€the€U.S.,€such€as€Iran,€bears€aÐ ° Ðð ðvery€heavy€burdenðð€to€show€that€the€family€members€are€not€a€means€of€coercion€or€exploitation.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€Ô_ÔISCRÔ_Ô€CaseÐ tÄ ÐNo.€10„09986€at€3€(App.€Bd.€Dec.€15,€2011). ÀÝ ƒx«$ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ôXòXXÔ€òòSeeóó,€Directive,€Encl.€2,€App.€A€ðð€9.€€ dÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔKEYWORD:€Guideline€C;€Guideline€BÐ ° ÐÌDIGEST:€The€Judgeððs€adverse€findings€under€Guideline€C€only€involved€Applicant€voting€in€aÐ ˆØ Ðforeign€election.€The€adjudicative€guidelines€in€the€Directive€were€revised€in€June€2017.€U.S.Ð tÄ Ðcitizenððs€exercise€of€any€right€or€privilege€of€foreign€citizenship€without€an€objective€showing€ofÐ `° Ða€conflict€or€attempt€at€concealment€is€not€disqualifying.€As€part€of€that€revision,€voting€in€aÐ L œ Ðforeign€election€is€no€longer€listed€as€disqualifying€condition€under€Guideline€C.€Given€thisÐ 8 ˆ Ðrecent€change€in€the€guidelines,€we€are€treating€the€Judgeððs€adverse€findings€under€Guideline€CÐ $ t Ðas€a€nullity.€The€Judgeððs€adverse€findings€under€Guideline€B€are€sustainable€on€this€record.Ð  ` ÐAdverse€decision€affirmed.Ð ü L  ÐÌÔ_ÔCASENOÔ_Ô:€15„08250.a1Ð Ô$  ÐÌDATE:€07/28/2017Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àDATE:€July€28,€2017Ð „Ô  ÐÌÌÌÒ.؉ð7r°(#°(#.ÒßA€V) °°xdE°3gAßÐ 4„ ÐÌIn€Re:Ð / ÐÌà  à„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„Ìà  à€Ð óC ÐÌApplicant€for€Security€ClearanceÐ Ë ÐÌßA€V) °°xdE°¢gAßÐ £ó Ð)Ð 4„ Ð)Ð  p Ð)Ð  \ Ð)Ð øH Ð)Ð ä4  Ð)Ð Ð ! Ð)Ð ¼ " Ð)Ð ¨ø# ÐÓp°œXÓÌÌÌà p àÔ_ÔISCRÔ_Ô€Case€No.€15„08250Ð øH& ÐÐ ä4' ÐÒ.؉ð7r°°.ÒÓ °\X›XpÓà@ìì*ìàˆÐ žî' ÐÌò òÓ  ÓAPPEAL€BOARD€DECISIONÐ v Æ) ÐÌÌòòAPPEARANCESóóÐ :#Š, Ðó óÌÔ‡&÷%XXÔò òFOR€GOVERNMENTó óÐ %b . ÐJames€B.€Norman,€Esq.,€Chief€Department€CounselÐ ê%:!/ ÐÌò òFOR€APPLICANTó óÐ š'ê"1 Ðòòò òPro€seó óóóÔ#†XôÌX%&÷R#ÔÐ r(Â#2 ÐÌÌÓ  Óà  àThe€Department€of€Defense€(DoD)€declined€to€grant€Applicant€a€security€clearance.€€On€AprilÐ  +p&5 Ð20,€2016,€DoD€issued€a€statement€of€reasons€(Ô_ÔSORÔ_Ô)€advising€Applicant€of€the€basis€for€thatÐ  ,\'6 Ðdecisionð!ðsecurity€concerns€raised€under€Guideline€C€(Foreign€Preference)€and€Guideline€B€(ForeignÐ ø,H(7 ÐInfluence)€of€Department€of€Defense€Directive€5220.6€(Jan.€2,€1992,€as€amended)€(Directive).€Ð ä-4)8 ÐApplicant€requested€a€hearing.€€On€May€15,€2017,€after€the€hearing,€Defense€Office€of€Hearings€andÐ ° ÐAppeals€(DOHA)€Administrative€Judge€Roger€C.€Wesley€denied€Applicantððs€request€for€a€securityÐ œì Ðclearance.€€Applicant€appealed€pursuant€to€Directive€ðððð€E3.1.28€and€E3.1.30.Ð ˆØ ÐÌà  àApplicant€raised€the€following€issue€on€appeal:€€whether€the€Judge€erred€in€his€findings€ofÐ `° Ðfact.€€Consistent€with€the€following,€we€affirm.Ð L œ ÐÌÌÌà  àò òThe€Judgeððs€Findings€of€Fact€ó ó€Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àApplicant€is€a€47„year„old€€employee€of€a€defense€contractor.€€€He€immigrated€to€the€UnitedÐ Ø(  ÐStates€in€1995€and€became€a€U.S.€citizen€in€2006.€€He€holds€dual€citizenship€with€Turkey.€€His€wifeÐ Ä  Ðis€a€U.S.€citizen€who€also€holds€citizenship€with€Turkey€and€Iran.€€One€of€his€children€is€aÐ °  Ðnaturalized€U.S.€citizen€and€the€other€is€a€U.S.€citizen€by€birth.€€Ð œì  Ðà  àÌà  àApplicant€voted€in€Turkeyððs€national€elections€in€2014€and€2015.€€He€exercised€no€otherÐ tÄ ÐTurkish€privileges€since€becoming€a€U.S.€citizen.€€Ð `° ÐÌà  àApplicantððs€parents€are€citizens€and€residents€of€Turkey.€€His€mother€is€a€homemaker.€€HisÐ 8ˆ Ðfather€is€a€retired€attorney€who€once€served€in€the€Turkish€military.€€His€mother€became€a€U.S.Ð $t Ðcitizen€in€2013.€€He€provides€periodic€financial€assistance€to€his€parents.€€He€communicates€withÐ ` Ðthem€weekly€and€sees€them€yearly.Ð üL ÐÌà  àApplicant€has€two€sisters,€extended€family€members,€and€close€friends€who€are€citizens€andÐ Ô$ Ðresidents€of€Turkey.€€His€oldest€sister€works€for€a€state€government€agency€and€may€have€access€toÐ À Ðsensitive€or€classified€information.€€€His€younger€sister€works€for€a€bank€that€is€not€associated€withÐ ¬ü Ðthe€government.€€He€communicates€with€his€sisters€bi„weekly.€€One€close€friend€is€a€food€engineerÐ ˜è Ðfor€the€Turkish€government.Ð „Ô ÐÌà  àApplicant€has€in„laws€who€are€citizens€and€residents€of€Iran.€€His€mother„in„law€holds€dualÐ \ ¬ Ðcitizenship€with€Iran€and€the€United€States.€€His€father„in„law€has€permanent€resident€alien€status€inÐ H!˜ Ðthe€United€States.€€His€mother„in„law€has€visited€his€family€in€the€United€States€on€multipleÐ 4"„  Ðoccasions.€€Both€Applicant€and€his€wife€maintain€frequent€contact€with€her€parents.€€Ð  #p! ÐÌà  à€€Applicant€has€no€property€or€financial€interests€in€Turkey.€€His€financial€interests€in€theÐ ø$H # ÐUnited€States€total€about€$650,000.€€It€is€uncertain€whether€he€will€inherit€property€in€Turkey.€€Ð ä%4!$ Ðà  àà ` àÌà  àThe€United€States€and€Turkey€enjoy€close€economic,€political,€and€security€relations.€€TurkeyÐ ¼' #& Ðis€a€NATO€ally.€€In€recent€years,€Turkey€faced€significant€terrorist€threats.€€Human€rights€problemsÐ ¨(ø#' Ðhave€also€plagued€Turkey.€€Ð ”)ä$( ÐÌà  àIran€remains€the€most€active€state€sponsor€of€terrorism.€€Its€financial,€material,€and€logisticalÐ l+¼&* Ðsupport€of€terrorists€and€militant€groups€throughout€the€Middle€East€and€Central€Asia€had€a€directÐ X,¨'+ Ðimpact€on€international€efforts€to€promote€peace,€threatened€economic€stability€in€the€Gulf,€andÐ D-”(, Ðundermined€the€growth€of€democracy.€€Iranððs€nuclear€program€remains€a€pressing€U.S.€concern.€€U.S.Ð ° ÐState€Department€reports€cite€significant€human€rights€concerns€in€Iran.€€Ð œì Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àÌà  àò òThe€Judgeððs€Analysisó óÐ tÄ Ðà  àÌà  àBy€voting€in€Turkeyððs€national€elections€in€2014€and€2015€after€becoming€a€U.S.€citizen,Ð L œ ÐApplicant€created€concerns€over€his€having€a€split€preference€for€the€United€States€and€Turkey.€Ð 8 ˆ ÐConsidering€the€geopolitical€situation€in€Turkey,€the€country€remains€a€heightened€risk€for€applicantsÐ $ t Ðwith€family€members€who€are€citizens€and€residents€of€Turkey.€€His€sisters€hold€positions€in€TurkeyÐ  ` Ðthat€potentially€afford€them€access€to€sensitive€or€classified€information.€€He€maintains€biweeklyÐ ü L  Ðcontact€with€his€sisters€but€never€discusses€the€specifics€of€his€work.€€Turkey€is€a€country€inÐ è 8  Ðtransition,€plagued€with€external€and€internal€terrorist€threats,€and€his€parents€and€sisters€remain€atÐ Ô$  Ðpotential€risk€of€foreign€coercion,€pressure,€or€influence.€€Ð À  ÐÌà  àIran€is€a€hostile€country€with€no€diplomatic€relations€with€the€United€States€and€is€a€stateÐ ˜è  Ðsponsor€of€terrorism.€€It€also€lacks€a€track€record€for€respecting€human€rights.€€ð ðApplicantððsÐ „Ô  Ðdemonstrated€loyalty,€patriotism,€and€professional€commitments€to€the€United€States,€whileÐ pÀ Ðconsiderable,€are€not€enough€to€neutralize€all€potential€conflicts€that€are€implicit€in€his€relationshipÐ \¬ Ðwith€his€wifeððs€parents€residing€in€Iran.ðð€€Decision€at€21.€€Their€residence€in€Iran€cannot€beÐ H˜ Ðcharacterized€as€sufficiently€insulated€from€potential€pressures€or€influences€from€the€IranianÐ 4„ Ðgovernment.Ð  p Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àÌà  àò òDiscussionó óÐ øH Ðà  àÌà  àThe€Judgeððs€adverse€findings€under€Guideline€C€only€involved€Applicant€voting€in€a€foreignÐ Ð  Ðelection.€€We€note€the€adjudicative€guidelines€in€the€Directive€were€revised€in€June€2017.€€Under€thisÐ ¼  Ðrevision,€a€U.S.€citizenððs€exercise€of€any€right€or€privilege€of€foreign€citizenship€without€an€objectiveÐ ¨ø Ðshowing€of€a€conflict€or€attempt€at€concealment€is€not€disqualifying.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€As€part€of€that€revision,€votingÐ ”ä Ðin€a€foreign€election€is€no€longer€listed€as€a€disqualifying€condition€under€Guideline€C.€€Given€thisÐ €Ð Ðrecent€change€in€the€guidelines,€we€are€treating€the€Judgeððs€adverse€findings€under€Guideline€C€asÐ l¼ Ða€nullity€because€there€is€no€showing€that€Applicantððs€voting€in€the€Turkish€elections€created€aÐ X ¨ Ðconflict.€€Moreover,€since€we€are€invalidating€the€Judgeððs€adverse€findings€under€Guideline€C,€weÐ D!” Ðneed€not€address€Applicantððs€allegations€of€error€that€solely€address€those€findings.€€The€remainderÐ 0"€  Ðof€this€decision€addresses€Applicantððs€allegations€of€error€regarding€the€Judgeððs€adverse€findingsÐ #l! Ðunder€Guideline€B.€€Ð $X" ÐÌà  àApplicant€challenges€some€of€the€Judgeððs€findings€under€Guideline€B.׃T×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€For€example,€he€firstÐ à%0!$ Ðcontends€that€the€Judge€erred€in€finding€that€his€mother€became€a€naturalized€U.S.€citizen€in€2013.€Ð Ì&"% ÐHe€noted€that€his€mother„in„law€is€a€naturalized€U.S.€citizen,€but€his€mother€is€a€Turkish€citizen.€Ð ¸'#& ÐSecond,€Applicant€states€the€Judge€erred€in€finding€that€he€provided€financial€support€to€his€parents.€Ð ° ÐHe€denied€providing€them€financial€support€and€noted€he€testified€that,€if€one€of€his€parents€passedÐ œì Ðaway,€he€may€need€to€help€the€survivor€financially.€€Third,€he€argues€that€the€Judgeððs€finding€thatÐ ˆØ Ðð ðApplicant€retains€deep€affections€and€concerns€for€the€safety€and€well„being€of€his€parents€andÐ tÄ Ðsisters€residing€in€Turkeyðð€is€partially€incorrect.€€He€concedes€that€he€has€deep€concerns€for€theirÐ `° Ðsafety,€but€states€Turkey€is€not€a€war„torn€country€and€his€concerns€would€apply€equally€acrossÐ L œ ÐEurope,€citing€recent€terrorist€attacks€in€an€European€country.€€Even€if€the€Judge€erred€as€ApplicantÐ 8 ˆ Ðavers,€those€errors,€whether€considered€individually€or€cumulatively,€were€harmless€because€theyÐ $ t Ðlikely€had€no€affect€on€the€Judgeððs€ultimate€decision.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€òò€See,€e.g.óó,€ISCR€Case€No.€15„00535€at€3€(App.Ð  ` ÐBd.€Mar.€13,€2017).Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àThe€Judgeððs€adverse€findings€under€Guideline€B€are€sustainable€on€this€record.€€The€JudgeÐ Ô$  Ðexamined€the€relevant€evidence€and€articulated€a€satisfactory€explanation€for€the€adverse€decisionÐ À  Ðunder€that€guideline€.€€ð ðThe€general€standard€is€that€a€clearance€may€be€granted€only€when€ððclearlyÐ ¬ü  Ðconsistent€with€the€interests€of€the€national€security.ðððð€€òòDepartment€of€the€Navy€v.€Eganóó,€484€U.S.Ð ˜è  Ð518,€528€(1988).€€òòSee€alsoóó€Directive,€Encl.€2,€App.€A€ðð€2(b):€€ð ðAny€doubt€concerning€personnel€beingÐ „Ô  Ðconsidered€for€national€security€eligibility€will€be€resolved€in€favor€of€the€national€security.ððÐ pÀ ÐÌà@ââ(ìàò òOrderó óˆÐ H˜ ÐÌà  àThe€Decision€is€ò òAFFIRMEDó ó.€€Ð  p ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€James€E.€Moody€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ Ô$ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àJames€E.€MoodyÐ À Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAdministrative€JudgeÐ ¬ü Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMember,€Appeal€BoardÐ ˜è ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€William€S.€Fields€€€€€€€€€€€à x àóóà Ð àÐ H!˜ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€William€S.€FieldsÐ 4"„  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAdministrative€JudgeÐ  #p! Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMember,€Appeal€BoardÐ  $\" ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€James€F.€Duffy€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô_ÔóóÔ_ÔÐ ¼' #& Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àJames€F.€DuffyÐ ¨(ø#' Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAdministrative€JudgeÐ ”)ä$( Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMember,€Appeal€Ô_ÔBoardÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_Ô