Viewing Hentai, Timecard Fraud, and Shoplifting Sinks Clearance Eligibility

A DoD security clearance applicant who applied for a job requiring access to sensitive compartmented information underwent two polygraph examinations that ended up sinking his eligibility for a security clearance. He subsequently appealed to the Defense Office of Hearing and Appeals. Here are the highlights of the case.

During his first polygraph the applicant admitted to watching Hentai (anime porn) for the last ten years. He also admitted to having watched a video involving a woman engaging in bestiality. The applicant also admitted to shoplifting various items form several stores because he didn’t have the money to pay for them. The applicant also admitted to falsifying his timecard for a previous employer, bilking them of 30-40 hours not worked. Lastly, he admitted to misuse of narcotics and eating an edible before realizing it had THC in it. He has also been treated for anxiety for the last three years. After the applicant was informed by the examiner that he had failed his polygraph, he told the examiner that he was thinking about suicide. After failing his second examination, he was later interviewed by an investigator and asked about all these issues. Various discrepancies popped up in his answers.

Despite explanations and excuses for all of his misconduct, the DOHA judge was not buying it, instead, being of the opinion that the applicant had not mitigated the concerns with sexual behavior, criminal conduct, falsifications on his security questionnaire, and discrepant testimonies during his two polygraphs and the security interview – clearance eligibility denied. You can read the whole case summary here.