ÿWPCx S‚Y|m@ÁA½^XÝ$â™ZÑèxm!*Ô^Õs›ÔXýkÙ|m@é!Ü?f‘‡=? U|ÏìþtãÕ•Iê+úÊPnÿј µñÄŠµ¯H-²ªYG |á$å—…Â6aýñá õKŠå¹MiN“Ë—+öî6Œ×žµËC׫ºÝ"6UB×X.PèÒT*T¶7L^Ü g| A+¼FŒáHpÓ+ŽlŒÔ3¹‘¹ô-¦Ö9c#I(Ó³&wCÑ°"'Xÿôêþ>i%÷-“Œ®05õüZ#ÉìU Nµ % 0: àZC ^ w© 4­ Á Ð mÒ àZé é é EC 0©E 6î 0D$Éh1N@@@@ BB NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN B[˜Hewlett-Packard HP LaserJet P3010 SeriesÈÈÈÈ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô8DocumentManagement::ModifiedBooleanTRUEîˆYK;E•Jtion03|xÿU‹ÿÿÿÿ8DocumentManagement::ModifiedBooleanTRUE(Y(2Îx$¤¤Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ€ô  òXXÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó ,Ý ƒÎx$ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÔ€ôHòXXÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔIn€his€clearance€interview,€and€during€his€testimony,€Applicant€stated€that€this€incident€resulted€from€his€havingÐ ° Ðbeen€in€an€automobile€accident.€€He€advised€his€clearance€investigator€that€his€car€had€hit€another€one,€and€a€strangerÐ tÄ Ðcame€forward€accusing€Applicant€of€weaving€in€and€out€of€traffic,€believing€that€he€was€under€the€influence€of€aÐ 8ˆ Ðð ðsubstance.ðð€€This€stranger€demanded€that€Applicant€hand€over€the€keys€to€his€car.€€Applicant€did€not€deny€that€he€hadÐ üL Ðbeen€driving€erratically€but€attributed€his€conduct€to€having€been€tired.€Tr€at€49;€GE€4,€2015€Interview€Summary,€at€8.€Ð À ÐWe€note€also€that€Applicant€told€the€interviewer€that€in€February€2014€the€police€cited€him€for€having€made€a€U„turn€atÐ „Ô Ða€DUI€checkpoint,€which€was€illegal.€€Applicant€paid€a€fine€in€excess€of€$300.€€òòIdóó.€(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó ¿Ý ƒÎx$ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÔ€ôHòXXÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ôð ð[Applicant]:€[Ô_ÔU]ltimatelyÔ_Ô€the€police€came€and€arrested€me[.]ðð€Tr.€at€49.€ð ð[Judge]:€You€were€arrested,€right?Ð ° Ð[Applicant]:€Correct.ðð€€Tr.€at€70òò.€€See€also€óóGE€5,€Ô_ÔNCICÔ_Ô€Criminal€History€Record.€€The€entry€for€this€incident€lists€anÐ tÄ Ðð ðArrest€Date,ðð€ð ðArrest€Case€Number,ðð€and€ð ðArresting€Agencyðð€for€one€count€of€DUI.€€Applicant€stated€that€he€spent€twoÐ 8ˆ Ðdays€in€jail.€€GE€4,€2015€Interview€Summary,€at€8.€€ Ý ƒÎx$ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÔ€ôHòXXÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ_ÔAEÔ_Ô€C€contains€character€references€from€Applicantððs€colleagues.€€One€of€these€colleagues€worked€with€himÐ ° Ðat€the€law€firm.€€This€person€lauds€Applicantððs€job€performance€and€professional€skill€but€says€nothing€about€purportedÐ tÄ Ðpolicy€confusion€regarding€Applicantððs€access€to€employee€emails.€€ Ý ƒÎx$ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÔ€ôHòXXÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ôð ð[Judge]:€So€why€didnððt€you€tell€us€you€were€arrested?€[Applicant]:€Well,€I€was€not€sure€if€I€should€have€putÐ ° Ðthat€down,€due€to€the€Fifth€Amendment,€self„incrimination€.€.€.€[Ô_ÔI]tÔ_Ô€was€not€meant€to€deceive€.€.€.€[I]€was€in€conflict€withÐ tÄ Ðwhat€I€felt€was€the€Fifth€Amendment.ðð€€Tr.€at€70„71.€€ Ý ƒÎx$ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÔ€ôHòXXÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ôð ð[Attorney]:€[Ô_ÔW]hatÔ_Ô€was€the€nature€of€this€complaint?€[Applicant]:€Well,€they€.€.€.€saw€that€I€had€been€inÐ ° Ðpeopleððs€[email]€boxes€.€.€.€they€were€like,€ððWell,€no.€€You€canððt€monitor€these€guysðð€[emails],€because€thereððs€stuff€inÐ tÄ Ðhere€thatððs€confidential.ðððð€€Tr.€at€56.€€€€ dÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔKEYWORD:€Guideline€E;€Guideline€JÐ ° ÐÌDIGEST:€It€is€foreseeable€that€an€applicant€who€fails€to€answer€Ô_ÔSCAÔ_Ô€questions€according€to€theirÐ ˆØ Ðreasonable€and€accepted€meanings€may€well€fail€to€disclose€other€significant€matters€that€shouldÐ tÄ Ðbe€brought€to€the€attention€of€the€Government,€which€is€a€requirement€of€those€who€have€accessÐ `° Ðto€classified€information.€In€addition,€the€Judge€did€not€address€inconsistent€statements€thatÐ L œ ÐApplicant€made€regarding€his€failure€to€have€disclosed€his€mental€health€counseling.€Although€anÐ 8 ˆ Ðapplicant€might€decline€to€answer€a€question€that€he€believes€to€be€inculpatory,€the€ConstitutionalÐ $ t Ðprivilege€against€self„incrimination€does€not€excuse€or€justify€making€objectively€false€statementsÐ  ` Ðto€the€Government.€Favorable€Ô_ÔdecisionÔ_Ô€reversed.Ð ü L  ÐÌÔ_ÔCASENOÔ_Ô:€15„08163.a1Ð Ô$  ÐÌDATE:€10/25/2017Ð ¬ü  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àDATE:€October€25,€2017Ð ˜è  ÐÌÌÌÒ.؉ð7r°(#°(#.ÒßA€Y) °°xdE°GgAßÐ H˜ ÐÌIn€Re:Ð C“ ÐÌà  à„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„Ìà  à€Ð W ÐÌApplicant€for€Security€ClearanceÐ ß/ ÐÌßA€Y) °°xdE°¶gAßÐ · Ð)Ð H˜ Ð)Ð 4„ Ð)Ð  p Ð)Ð  \ Ð)Ð øH Ð)Ð ä4  Ð)Ð Ð ! Ð)Ð ¼ " ÐÐ ¨ø# ÐÓp°œXÓÌÌÌà p àÔ_ÔISCRÔ_Ô€Case€No.€15„08163Ð  \& ÐÐ øH' ÐÒ.؉ð7r°°.ÒÓ °\X›XpÓÐ €Ð' Ðò òÓ  ÓAPPEAL€BOARD€DECISIONÐ l¼( ÐÌÌòòAPPEARANCESóóÐ 0"€+ Ðó óÌÔ‡&íW%XXÔò òFOR€GOVERNMENTó óÐ $X- ÐAdrienne€Ô_ÔDriskillÔ_Ô,€Esq.,€Department€CounselÐ à$0 . ÐÌò òFOR€APPLICANTó óÐ &à!0 ÐÔ_ÔSkylerÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔSampÔ_Ô,€Esq.Ô#†Xã„X%&íW­#ÔÐ h'¸"1 ÐÌÓ  Óà  àThe€Department€of€Defense€(DoD)€declined€to€grant€Applicant€a€security€clearance.€€On€JuneÐ ,)|$3 Ð10,€2016,€DoD€issued€a€statement€of€reasons€(Ô_ÔSORÔ_Ô)€advising€Applicant€of€the€basis€for€thatÐ *h%4 Ðdecisionð!ðsecurity€concerns€raised€under€Guideline€E€(Personal€Conduct)€and€Guideline€J€(CriminalÐ +T&5 ÐConduct)€of€Department€of€Defense€Directive€5220.6€(Jan.€2,€1992,€as€amended)€(Directive).€Ð ð+@'6 ÐApplicant€requested€a€hearing.€€On€July€19,€2017,€after€the€hearing,€Defense€Office€of€Hearings€andÐ Ü,,(7 ÐAppeals€(DOHA)€Administrative€Judge€Ô_ÔWilfordÔ_Ô€H.€Ross€granted€Applicantððs€request€for€a€securityÐ È-)8 ÐÔ_Ôclearance.€€Department€Counsel€appealed€pursuant€to€Directive€ðððð€E3.1.28€and€E3.1.30.Ð ° ÐÌà  àDepartment€Counsel€raised€the€following€issues€on€appeal:€whether€the€Judgeððs€favorableÐ ˆØ Ðdecision€ran€contrary€to€the€weight€of€the€record€evidence€and€whether€the€Judgeððs€whole„personÐ tÄ Ðanalysis€was€erroneous.€€The€Judgeððs€favorable€findings€under€Guideline€J€are€not€at€issue€in€thisÐ `° Ðappeal.€€Consistent€with€the€following,€we€reverse.Ð L œ Ѐ€Ð 8 ˆ Ðà  àò òThe€Judgeððs€Findings€of€Factó óÐ $ t ÐÌà  àApplicant€is€seeking€to€retain€his€security€clearance.€€The€record€shows€that€he€suffers€fromÐ ü L  ÐCrohnððs€disease,€resulting€in€multiple€hospitalizations.€€Fatigue€is€a€symptom€of€this€condition,€andÐ è 8  Ðit€has€had€a€major€impact€on€Applicantððs€life€and€work€habits.€€Applicant€takes€prescribed€painÐ Ô$  Ðkillers€in€order€to€alleviate€the€symptoms€of€his€illness.€€In€late€2014,€a€psychiatrist€examined€himÐ À  Ðand€concluded€that€he€also€suffers€from€Aspergerððs€Syndrome,€a€developmental€disorder.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àIn€2008,€Applicant€worked€at€a€casino.€€He€cashed€a€check,€which€turned€out€to€be€fraudulent.€Ð „Ô  ÐThis€appears€to€have€been€an€honest€mistake€and€has€no€current€security€significance.€€In€2012,Ð pÀ ÐApplicant€was€cited€for€a€ð ðred€light€cameraðð€violation.€€Decision€at€3.€€This€incident€also€lacksÐ \¬ Ðsecurity€significance.€€Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àFrom€2011€to€2013,€Applicant€worked€at€a€law€office.€€He€denied€that€he€was€reprimandedÐ  p Ðfor€sleeping€at€work,€although€he€concedes€that€his€employers€talked€about€this€matter€with€him.€€HeÐ  \ Ðbelieves€that€these€incidents€are€related€to€his€Crohnððs€disease.€€He€resigned€from€this€job€becauseÐ øH Ðhe€found€better€employment,€not€because€of€sleeping€on€duty.Ð ä4 ÐÌà  àIn€2013,€Applicant€was€arrested€for€possession€of€a€narcotic/controlled€substance€and€forÐ ¼  Ðbeing€under€the€influence€of€a€controlled€substance.€€At€the€time,€he€had€been€taking€pain€killers.€Ð ¨ø ÐHe€later€pled€guilty€to€reckless€driving,€a€lesser€included€offense,€and€the€court€sentenced€him€toÐ ”ä Ðthree€years€probation,€a€fine,€and€attendance€at€a€first„offenderððs€alcohol€program€as€well€as€at€aÐ €Ð ÐMADD€impact€panel.€€Applicant€remained€on€probation€as€of€the€close€of€the€record.€€He€hasÐ l¼ Ðchanged€his€driving€habits€as€a€consequence€of€this€incident.Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àAt€the€time€of€this€arrest,€Applicant€worked€for€a€Defense€contractor.€€He€stated€in€hisÐ 0"€  Ðsecurity€clearance€application€(SCA)€that€he€received€a€warning€from€his€employer€about€thisÐ #l! Ðoffense.€€He€resigned€from€employment,€not€because€of€this€matter€but€because€he€thought€he€hadÐ $X" Ðreceived€an€offer€of€better€employment.€€His€hopes€for€a€new€job€did€not€come€to€pass,€but€his€effortÐ ô$D # Ðto€rescind€his€letter€of€resignation€was€not€successful.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌà  àIn€August€2013,€the€police€detained€Applicant€for€possibly€driving€under€the€influence€ofÐ ¸'#& Ðalcohol€or€drugs€following€a€minor€automobile€accident.€€A€blood€test€showed€that€he€had€not€beenÐ ¤(ô#' Ðdrinking,€so€Applicant€was€released€and€no€charges€were€filed.€€Because€available€reports€state€thatÐ )à$( Ðthis€was€ð ðDetention€only,ðð€the€Judge€found€that€Applicant€had€not€been€arrested€or€charged.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌà  àDuring€a€few€months€in€2014,€Applicant€worked€for€a€law€firm.€€His€employment€wasÐ T,¤'+ Ðterminated€because€he€was€monitoring€other€employeesðð€emails.€€He€testified€that€he€believed€thatÐ @-(, Ðsuch€conduct€was€part€of€his€job,€although€others€in€the€corporation€thought€otherwise.€€From€lateÐ ° Ð2014€until€early€2015,€Applicant€worked€for€a€Defense€contractor.€€He€had€medical€problems,€whichÐ œì Ðentailed€a€weekððs€hospitalization.€€He€also€passed€out€on€the€job€several€times,€due€to€his€variousÐ ˆØ Ðillnesses.€€His€employer€believed€that€he€was€sleeping€on€the€job,€and€Applicant€left€the€companyÐ tÄ Ðthrough€mutual€agreement.Ð `° ÐÌà  àIn€completing€his€SCA€in€June€2015,€Applicant€answered€ð ðnoðð€to€a€question€about€whetherÐ 8 ˆ Ðhe€ð ðhad€consulted€a€mental€health€professional€regarding€an€emotional€or€mental€health€condition.ðð€Ð $ t ÐIn€fact,€he€had€consulted€a€counselor€on€about€five€occasions€in€2013€and€he€saw€a€psychiatrist€fromÐ  ` ÐJune€2014€to€early€2015,€due€to€depression€and€anxiety.€€He€denied€that€this€was€a€false€answer,Ð ü L  Ðbecause€the€SCA€stated€that€such€consultation€did€not€have€to€be€disclosed€if€it€were€for€ð ðgrief€notÐ è 8  Ðrelated€to€violence€byðð€Applicant.€€He€defined€grief€as€ð ða€loss€of€anything,€anything€significant,€suchÐ Ô$  Ðas€freedom€or€death€of€a€spouse.€€Any€sort€of€job€or€situation€can€put€a€person€into€grief.ðð€€DecisionÐ À  Ðat€5.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àIn€the€same€SCA,€Applicant€disclosed€in€detail€the€facts€about€the€May€2013€DUI.€€However,Ð „Ô  Ðhe€did€not€disclose€the€second€alleged€DUI,€on€the€ground€that€he€believed€it€to€be€ð ðan€improperÐ pÀ Ðarrest.ðð€€Decision€at€5.€€He€also€answered€ð ðnoðð€to€a€question€about€whether€he€had€ever€been€chargedÐ \¬ Ðwith€an€offense€involving€alcohol.€€Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àò òThe€Judgeððs€Analysisó óÐ  p ÐÌà  àThe€Judge€noted€Applicantððs€diagnoses€of€Crohnððs€disease€and€Aspergerððs€Syndrome,€whichÐ øH Ðhe€concluded€were€directly€related€to€the€two€SOR€allegations€concerning€sleeping€on€duty.€€HeÐ ä4 Ðstated€that€Applicantððs€discharge€from€the€law€office€in€2014€appeared€to€have€resulted€from€policyÐ Ð  Ðconfusion€or€conflict€inside€the€company.€€ð ðHis€conduct€was€not,€on€its€face,€wrongful.ðð€€DecisionÐ ¼  Ðat€8.€€He€also€reiterated€his€finding€that€Applicant€was€not€arrested€during€the€later€alleged€DUIÐ ¨ø Ðincident.€€He€stated€that€Applicant€had€good€reason€for€not€believing€that€he€had€been€arrested,€soÐ ”ä Ðthat€his€failure€to€disclose€this€incident€was€not€deliberate.€€He€also€stated€that€Applicant€had€a€good„Ð €Ð Ðfaith€belief€that€he€was€receiving€grief€counseling,€due€to€his€definition€of€the€term€ð ðgrief.ðð€€Ð l¼ ÐÌà  àò òDiscussionó óÐ D!” ÐÌà  àThere€is€a€strong€presumption€against€the€grant€or€maintenance€of€a€security€clearance.€€òòSeeóóÐ #l! ÐòòDorfmont€v.€Brownóó,€913€F.€2d€1399,€1401€(9òòthóó€Cir.€1990),€òòcert.€denied,€óó499€U.S.€905€(1991).€€TheÐ $X" Ðapplicant€is€responsible€for€presenting€evidence€to€rebut,€explain,€extenuate,€or€mitigate€admitted€orÐ ô$D # Ðproven€facts.€€The€applicant€has€the€burden€of€persuasion€as€to€obtaining€a€favorable€decision.€Ð à%0!$ ÐDirective€ðð€E3.1.15.€€The€standard€applicable€in€security€clearance€decisions€ð ðis€that€a€clearance€mayÐ Ì&"% Ðbe€granted€onlyòò€óówhen€ððclearly€consistent€with€the€interests€of€the€national€security.ðððð€òòDepartment€ofÐ ¸'#& Ðthe€Navy€v.€Eganóó,€484€U.S.€518,€528€(1988).€€ð ðAny€doubt€concerning€personnel€being€considered€forÐ ¤(ô#' Ðnational€security€eligibility€will€be€resolved€in€favor€of€the€national€security.ðð€€Directive,€Encl.€2,Ð )à$( ÐApp.€A€ðð€2(b).€Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌà  àIn€deciding€whether€the€Judge's€rulings€or€conclusions€are€erroneous,€we€will€review€theÐ T,¤'+ Ðdecision€to€determine€whether:€€it€does€not€examine€relevant€evidence;€it€fails€to€articulate€aÐ @-(, Ðsatisfactory€explanation€for€its€conclusions,€including€a€rational€connection€between€the€facts€foundÐ ° Ðand€the€choice€made;€it€does€not€consider€relevant€factors;€it€reflects€a€clear€error€of€judgment;€it€failsÐ œì Ðto€consider€an€important€aspect€of€the€case;€it€offers€an€explanation€for€the€decision€that€runs€contraryÐ ˆØ Ðto€the€record€evidence;€or€it€is€so€implausible€that€it€cannot€be€ascribed€to€a€mere€difference€ofÐ tÄ Ðopinion.€€òòSeeóó€ISCR€Case€No.€14„02563€at€3„4€(App.€Bd.€Aug.€28,€2015).Ð `° ÐÌà  àDepartment€Counsel€argues€that€the€Judgeððs€favorable€findings€run€contrary€to€the€greaterÐ 8 ˆ Ðweight€of€the€record€evidence.€€In€presenting€her€arguments,€she€challenges€the€Judgeððs€findings€thatÐ $ t ÐApplicant€had€not€deliberately€omitted€material€information€from€his€SCA.€€In€evaluating€whetherÐ  ` Ðan€applicantððs€omissions€are€deliberate,€a€Judge€should€evaluate€the€allegations€in€light€of€the€entiretyÐ ü L  Ðof€the€record€evidence.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€ISCR€Case€No.€14„04226€at€3€(App.€Bd.€Aug.€18,€2015).€Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àWe€find€Department€Counselððs€arguments€to€be€persuasive.€€We€note,€first€of€all,€theÐ À  Ðlanguage€of€the€question€regarding€mental€health€counseling,€which€reads€as€follows:€Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà8  àIn€the€last€seven€years,€have€you€consulted€with€a€health€care€professional€regardingÐ „Ô  Ðan€emotional€or€mental€health€condition€.€.€.€Answer€ð ðNoðð€if€the€counseling€was€forÐ pÀ Ðany€of€the€following€reasons€and€was€not€court„ordered:€strictly€marital,€family,€griefÐ \¬ Ðnot€related€to€violence€by€you[.]€Government€Exhibit€(GE)€1,€SCA,€at€33„34.ÐH˜Ð Ð  ÐÌThe€reasonable€meaning€of€this€question€is€to€exclude€counseling€due€to€marital€problems€unrelatedÐ  p Ðto€domestic€abuse€or€due€to€the€loss€of€loved€ones.€€The€Judge€himself€acknowledged€as€much€in€hisÐ  \ Ðquestioning€of€Applicant.€€Ð øH ÐÌà8  àYou€do€realize€that€normally€grief,€in€the€normal€definition,€involves€a€loss,€such€asÐ Ð  Ða€loss€of€a€spouse,€parent,€child,€things€like€that,€right?€€Under€normal€circumstances,Ð ¼  Ðthatððs€normally€what€ð ðgriefðð€is€defined€as.€€Tr.€at€65.€€Ð¨øÐ Ð  ÐÌà  àThe€Judge€concluded€that€Applicant€had€a€good„faith€belief€that€grief€could€includeÐ €Ð Ðdepression€due€to€a€job€loss,€in€light€of€his€personal€history.€€He€did€not€explain€why€this€was€so,Ð l¼ Ðeven€in€light€of€that€history.€That€is,€he€did€not€address€the€extent€to€which€Applicantððs€definitionÐ X ¨ Ðcould€be€viewed€as€merely€self„serving€rather€than€an€honestly„held€belief.€€Moreover,€ApplicantððsÐ D!” Ðtestimony€that€grief€includes€oneððs€reaction€to€ð ðany€sort€of€job€or€situationðð€(òòIdóó.)€is€unreasonable.€Ð 0"€  ÐSuch€an€interpretation€could€render€the€question€itself€a€nullity,€enabling€applicants€to€avoid€theÐ #l! Ðpurpose€of€the€question€and€withhold€material€information€necessary€for€an€informed€adjudication,Ð $X" Ðas€is€the€case€here.€€It€is€foreseeable€that€an€applicant€who€fails€to€answer€SCA€questions€accordingÐ ô$D # Ðto€their€reasonable€and€accepted€meanings€may€well€fail€to€disclose€other€significant€matters€thatÐ à%0!$ Ðshould€be€brought€to€the€attention€of€the€Government,€which€is€a€requirement€of€those€who€haveÐ Ì&"% Ðaccess€to€classified€information.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€ISCR€Case€No.€13„01281€at€3€(App.€Bd.€Aug.€4,€2014)Ð ¸'#& Ð(An€applicant€must€be€willing€to€self„report€significant€information€pertinent€to€his€or€her€clearance).€Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌà  àIn€addition,€the€Judge€did€not€address€inconsistent€statements€that€Applicant€made€regardingÐ |*Ì%) Ðhis€failure€to€have€disclosed€his€mental€health€counseling.€€During€his€security€clearance€interview,Ð h+¸&* ÐApplicant€stated€that€he€did€not€list€his€counseling€sessions€in€2013€because€he€thought€he€was€onlyÐ T,¤'+ Ðsupposed€to€disclose€contact€with€medical€doctors,€which€the€provider€in€question€was€not.€Ð @-(, ÐRegarding€the€mental€health€treatment€in€2014€and€2015,€he€stated€that€at€the€time€he€ð ðwas€livingÐ ° Ðin€fear€of€police€and€needed€someone€to€talk€to.ðð€€GE€4,€2015€Interview€Summary,€at€7.€€TheseÐ œì Ðanswers€make€no€reference€to€anything€that€could€reasonably€be€characterized€as€grief€and€areÐ ˆØ Ðsignificantly€inconsistent€with€Applicantððs€testimony€at€the€hearing.€€Inconsistent€statements€canÐ tÄ Ðimpugn€an€applicantððs€credibility,€and€the€Judgeððs€failure€to€have€addressed€these€inconsistenciesÐ `° Ðsignificantly€undercuts€his€favorable€resolution€of€the€allegation€in€question.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€ISCR€CaseÐ L œ ÐNo.€15„03778€at€3€(App.€Bd.€Aug.€4,€2017).€€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àThe€Judge€found€that€Applicant€had€not€deliberately€withheld€material€information€from€hisÐ  ` ÐSCA€about€the€August€2013€DUI€€incident.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€He€concluded€that€Applicant€reasonably€did€not€believeÐ ü L  Ðthat€he€had€been€arrested,€despite€his€hearing€testimony€that€described€the€incident€as€an€arrest׃ì×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€andÐ è 8  Ðdespite€his€having€characterized€it€that€way€during€his€clearance€interview,€albeit€as€a€ð ðfalseðð€one.€Ð Ô$  ÐGE€4€at€8.€€Applicant€made€other€statements€that€conflicted€with€a€belief€that€he€had€not€beenÐ À  Ðarrested,€testifying€that€he€did€not€admit€the€August€2013€incident€due€to€concern€over€self„Ð ¬ü  Ðincrimination.€€This€is€in€and€of€itself€a€reason€to€believe€that€his€omission€of€this€incident€wasÐ ˜è  Ðdeliberate,€showing€that€Applicant€gave€the€matter€some€thought€and€made€a€conscious€decision€thatÐ „Ô  Ðit€would€serve€his€interests€to€deny€that€the€arrest€occurred.×ƒÄ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Although€an€applicant€might€declineÐ pÀ Ðto€answer€a€question€that€he€believes€to€be€inculpatory,€òòóóthe€Constitutional€privilege€against€self„Ð \¬ Ðincrimination€does€not€excuse€or€justify€making€objectively€false€statements€to€the€Governmentòò.€€SeeóóÐ H˜ ÐISCR€Case€No.€93„1108€at€3€(App.€Bd.€Oct.€6,€1995).€€Ð 4„ ÐÌà  àAccordingly,€the€record€contains€substantial€evidence€that€Applicant€was€arrested€for€DUI,Ð  \ Ðthat€he€had€a€motive€to€shield€the€arrest€from€discovery€by€those€adjudicating€his€SCA,€and€that€heÐ øH Ðprovided€the€false€denial€after€some€measure€of€reflection.€€Contrary€to€Applicantððs€assertions€andÐ ä4 Ðthe€Judgeððs€conclusions,€there€is€substantial€evidence€that€Applicant€deliberately€did€not€disclose€theÐ Ð  ÐAugust€2013€incident.€€Viewed€in€conjunction€with€his€denial€of€mental€health€counseling,€theÐ ¼  Ðevidence€viewed€as€a€whole€undermines€the€Judgeððs€finding€that€Applicantððs€SCA€omissions€wereÐ ¨ø Ðdone€in€good„faith.€€Indeed,€the€multiple€nature€of€Applicantððs€false€statements€could€give€rise€to€aÐ ”ä Ðreasonable€belief€that€they€were€deliberate.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€ISCR€Case€No.€13„12407€at€3„4€€(App.€Bd.Ð €Ð ÐAug.€18,€2014).€€At€the€least,€these€omissions€suggest€a€significant€lack€of€the€candor€expected€ofÐ l¼ Ðthose€who€have€access€to€classified€information.€€€€Ð ° ÐÌà  àDepartment€Counsel€points€to€other€aspects€of€the€record€that€contravene€the€Judgeððs€findingsÐ ˆØ Ðand€conclusions.€€For€example,€she€notes€inconsistent€statements€about€Applicantððs€May€2013€arrestÐ tÄ Ðfor€drug€possession,€etc.€€At€the€hearing,€Applicant€stated€that€the€narcotic€pills€in€question€had€beenÐ `° Ðhis€own€but€were€contained€in€his€girlfriendððs€pill€bottle,€insofar€as€they€frequently€recycled€theirÐ L œ Ðmedication€containers.€€Tr.€at€79.€€However,€elsewhere€he€stated€that€the€pills€themselves€were€hisÐ 8 ˆ Ðgirlfriendððs€and€that€he€must€have€picked€up€her€bottle€by€mistake.€€òòSee€óóGE€7,€Incident€History.€Ð $ t ÐDepartment€Counsel€also€cites€to€the€Judgeððs€finding€that€Applicant€left€his€job€after€the€May€2013Ð  ` Ðarrest€due€to€an€offer€of€better€employment,€failing€to€discuss€Applicantððs€own€admission€in€his€SCAÐ ü L  Ðthat,€in€fact,€it€had€been€a€ð ðforced€resignation.ðð€€GE€1at€17.€€As€Department€Counsel€argues,€failureÐ è 8  Ðto€have€addressed€these€inconsistencies€impairs€the€Judgeððs€overall€favorable€conclusions.€€€€Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àDepartment€Counsel€challenges€the€Judgeððs€conclusion€that€Applicant€was€discharged€fromÐ ¬ü  Ðthe€second€law€firm€through€no€fault€of€his€own€but,€rather,€due€to€policy€confusion€about€his€accessÐ ˜è  Ðto€email€traffic.€€Department€Counselððs€challenge€is€persuasive.€€Contrary€to€the€Judgeððs€analysis,Ð „Ô  Ðit€is€not€surprising€that€employees€of€a€law€firm,€òòi.eóó.,€lawyers,€would€object€to€a€lay€employeeÐ pÀ Ðmonitoring€communications€that€may€well€have€contained€client€confidences€that€the€firm€wasÐ \¬ Ðethically€bound€to€protect.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€For€the€Judge€to€have€accepted€at€face€value€Applicantððs€uncorroboratedÐ H˜ Ðclaim€that€he€was€fired€simply€for€doing€his€job€was€a€failure€to€examine€the€record€in€light€of€theÐ 4„ Ðevidence€as€a€whole,€as€well€as€a€failure€to€apply€the€Directiveððs€requirement€that€DOHA€decisionsÐ  p Ðbe€founded€upon€common€sense.׃Ü×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Directive,€Encl.€2,€App.€A€ðð€2(c).€€Ð  \ ÐÌà  àIn€addition,€although€Applicant€stated€that€he€was€fired€from€his€casino€job€due€to€havingÐ ä4 Ðinnocently€cashed€a€fraudulent€check,€we€note€his€admission€that€his€employer€had€previouslyÐ Ð  Ðsuspended€him€for€two€or€three€days€for€having€given€a€customer€an€additional€$200€in€cash.€€GE€2,Ð ¼  Ð2009€Interview€Summary,€at€1.€€He€also€admitted€to€an€interviewer€that€his€supervisor€at€the€casinoÐ ¨ø Ðhad€twice€counseled€him€for€procedural€errors€while€working€as€a€cage€cashier.€€GE€3,€2013Ð ”ä ÐInterview€Summary,€at€1.€€The€Judge€did€not€note€these€prior€incidents,€although€they€detract€fromÐ €Ð ÐApplicantððs€claim€that€this€job€termination€was€due€solely€to€an€accusation€of€which€he€wasÐ l¼ Ðblameless.€€While€it€is€conceivable€that€a€person€could€experience€an€unfair€job€termination,€whenÐ X ¨ Ðone€occurs€after€repeated€counselings€for€misconduct€and/or€for€poor€performance,€it€underminesÐ D!” Ðclaims€that€the€termination€was€mistaken€or€unfounded.€€The€Judge€did€not€address€this€aspect€of€theÐ 0"€  Ðcase,€which€detracts€from€his€overall€decision.€€€Ð #l! ÐÌà  àIn€summary,€the€record€contains€evidence€as€well€as€the€Judgeððs€findings€that€show€thatÐ ô$D # ÐApplicant€twice€left€positions€of€employment€due€to€accusations€of€sleeping€on€the€job;€that€he€wasÐ à%0!$ Ðarrested€for€possession€of€a€controlled€substance€and€for€being€under€the€influence€of€a€controlledÐ Ì&"% Ðsubstance;€that€he€was€later€charged€with€DUI,€arising€from€the€same€incident,€resulting€in€a€plea€ofÐ ° Ðguilty€to€reckless€driving;€that€he€was€fired€from€two€jobs€due€to€allegations€of€misconduct;€and€thatÐ œì Ðhe€provided€answers€in€his€SCA€that€were€materially€false.€€Taken€together,€this€evidence€describesÐ ˆØ Ðconduct€occurring€over€a€course€of€years€that€detracts€significantly€from€Applicantððs€judgment€andÐ tÄ Ðreliability.€€This€is€particularly€true€of€the€false€statements.€€òòSeeóó€Directive,€Encl.€2,€App.€A€ðð€15€forÐ `° Ðthe€requirement€that€refusal€to€provide€truthful€answers€during€the€security€clearance€process€ð ðwillÐ L œ Ðnormally€result€in€an€unfavorable€clearance€action[.]ðð€€The€Judgeððs€uncritical€acceptance€ofÐ 8 ˆ ÐApplicantððs€claims€of€innocence€fails€to€address€Applicantððs€security„significant€conduct€as€aÐ $ t Ðcumulative€whole.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€ISCR€Case€No.€12„04813€at€4€(App.€Bd.€Jul.€31,€2015)€(A€Judge€mustÐ  ` Ðassess€the€totality€of€an€applicantððs€conduct€and€circumstances,€not€just€consider€them€in€a€piecemealÐ ü L  Ðmanner).€€In€light€of€the€foregoing,€the€Judgeððs€favorable€decision€does€not€consider€importantÐ è 8  Ðaspects€of€the€case€and€runs€contrary€to€the€weight€of€the€record€evidence.€€Accordingly,€the€decisionÐ Ô$  Ðis€not€sustainable.Ð  À  Ðà@ââ(ìàò òOrderó óˆÐ ° ÐÌà  àThe€Decision€is€ò òREVERSEDó ó.€€€€Ð ˆØ ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€Michael€Raððanan€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ < Œ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMichael€RaððananÐ ( 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 ÐÌÌÌà  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