Military Law Attorney | Washington, DC Security Clearance Issues

Ms. Gorecki-Robbins has spoken about security clearance issues on CNN and can help you with your case.

Navy Yard Shooting – CNN Video
Interview 9/17/13

The loss of your security clearance can have negative impacts on your job and your income. In most government jobs, you cannot work without a security clearance. If you have been notified that your security clearance is in jeopardy, now is not the time to “do it yourself.security clearance can be put into jeopardy for a variety of reasons ranging from a run-in with the police last weekend, bankruptcy, foreign influence or a failed polygraph with a government agency. No matter what the reason, your job, income, and future employment are at stake.

**INITIAL CONSULTATION IS FREE – call the 800 number today (even weekends and evenings) and discuss your case or email and set up a time.**

Typically you will be asked to respond to a Statement of Reasons (SOR) or an Letter of Intent (LOI) informing you that your security clearance is suspended or denied.

1. NSA CASES:

First, you will be sent a letter where you will be given an opportunity to respond in writing – this is the time to get an attorney involved. You do not want to make a mistake and state something that may be harmful to your case. If you can persuade them at this level to not deny your clearance then your case is done, clearance granted. If the NSA does not agree with your written appeal, you will have the opportunity to appear before a board, consisting of several people, at Fort Meade for an in-person appearance with your attorney. Please be aware that the Board’s determination after the in-person appearance is FINAL.

2. DOHA cases

Most cases go before the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) to be resolved. An administrative judge will decide your case and a Government representative will be present the Government’s case against you unlike that NSA process, where a board consisting of several will hear and decide your case. Regardless, the Law Offices of Anita Gorecki-Robbins can help you through this difficult process.

3. “OTHER” Agencies

Several other agencies within the Government have slight variations on how they proceed with an Security Clearance appeal. For example, your first level will be a written appeal wherein you have to state at the time of your written appeal whether you want an in-pesron appearance. If you do not state your request in your written appeal it will be deemed WAIVED! In these types of cases, it is always recommended that you request a hearing so that they can put a face with a file. This is YOUR opportunity, along with your attorney, to present your case at a hearing typically in front of one hearing officer who will make a recommendation to the security officer.

4. ALL of the agencies use the same set set of Guidelines:

The DoD’s “Directive 5220.6″ gives the 13 guidelines used to determine an applicant’s eligibility for a DoD security clearance. The most common are:

Guideline E—Personal Conduct

Any failure (or refusal) by the applicant to provide truthful and candid answers during the security clearance process, such as the completion of the SF-86.

Guideline F—Financial Consideration

The failure or inability to live within one’s means or satisfy debts is evidence of a lack of judgment, creating an issue of trustworthiness relative to the ability to protect classified information.

Guideline H—Drug Involvement

Illegal drug or misuse of a prescription drug calls into question an applicant’s reliability and trustworthiness.

5. When responding remember to:

a. Respond in a timely manner.

b. Understand the guidelines that has caused your suspension or denial (example, drugs, bankruptcy or foreign influence).

c. Mitigate, confirm or deny each fact in the SOR. Include documentation if possible. For example, if finances are your issue and you have paid off a credit card or are presently current on your mortgage, then you should provide documentation in your response to mitigate your case.

d. Get legal help.

Filling out your SF-86 can be equally as daunting and may lead you to question whether you are filling out the form correctly. Many people get in trouble once they have received their clearance because of a mistake or oversight made while filling out their SF-86; don’t let this happened to you. If you have questions while filling out your SF-86 call the Law Office of Anita Gorecki-Robbins.

ANITA GORECKI-ROBBINSLAW OFFICE