White House Whistleblower: More Than 25 Security Clearance Denials Reversed Under Trump

By Sabrina Siddiqui, Guardian UK

01 April 19

 

White House whistleblower has told members of Congress that Donald Trump’s administration overturned more than two dozen denials for security clearances, often ignoring the guidance of intelligence officials in what she dubbed as ‘systemic’ problems with the process.

Tricia Newbold, a White House security adviser holding nearly two decades of experience with clearances, made the revelation during an interview with the House Oversight and Reform Committee last month, according to documents released Monday.

“I feel that right now this is my last hope to really bring the integrity back into our office,” Newbold said, according to the panel’s memo summarizing her interview.

“I want it known that this is a systematic, it’s an office issue, and we’re not a political office, but these decisions were being continuously overrode.”

The White House’s handling of security clearances has drawn repeated scrutiny.

Last month, it was reported that Trump personally intervened to grant Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and senior adviser, a top-level security clearance against the warnings of senior intelligence officials. Democrats in Congress have demanded more information on the security clearance process and delivered an ultimatum to the White House to comply or face a subpoena.

Newbold told lawmakers she maintained a list of White House officials whose clearance applications were initially denied, only for the decision to later be overturned. There were as many as 25 people on the list.

“According to Ms. Newbold, these individuals had a wide range of serious disqualifying issues involving foreign influence, conflicts of interest, concerning personal conduct, financial problems, drug use, and criminal conduct,” the panel wrote.

Newbold said she raised concerns with her superiors and the White House counsel’s office. According to Newbold, her supervisor Carl Kline, the director of personnel security, played a key role in reversing the security clearance denials of White House officials. Democrats on the committee have said they plan to interview Kline.