House Oversight launches security clearance probe

3.9 MB·English

by  House Oversight and Reform Committee

Congress at the niten States
Douse of Representatives

ComRATTEE OOM

HT AND REF
oa

ss mares,

Tanaury 23, 2019

Me Pat Cipollone
Counsel tothe President
The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
‘Washington, D.C 2

Dear Mr, Cipullome:

‘The Commisize on Oversigar and Reform is taunel
security clewrmee process athe White House and ‘reusision Team ia gesponse wo
ff satiia securiy al the highest levels of the Tromp Administration, ieeluding by tomer
Netional Security AGv'ser Michael Pye und others

sn inedepll investigation 9
rave hrosches

The pols of this vestigation ae to determine why the White louse and Transition
Teaw apyes: to have disregarkel eaablishicd procedures for sateguarding clessifed “nfermation
evaluste the extent to which the rulion’s most highly ganrded secrets were provided to olivia
‘eho saguid not have had azcess tn tiem, and develap refarme lo remedy the flaws in current
White House systems snd oractives. ‘The savessigativn els wil seek to delermine why Ths Wk
TTouse is eurranty defying federal law by cing to aeovide wo Congres iietation abou ls
security slearance process 1

Lest year. Gouotal Jahn Kelly, President Trump's Chiel of Stat (he time, eoceded
Th Troe sno major “shortcomings” with the White llnuse's security eleunmze prowess, He
‘White Hose “showkt—an inthe fatute, ust —de bee” arid he sll Fat
hurd look a the way the White Hause processes clecratce requests

ssurnes h th
ray is he Lies tke

Lagree. Kor tae past ti years, Thuve sought indormasien sith oiher Commites
Members about a series of extremely troubling incidents reyerdng dhe sevurily vlesrumees af
sume a President Trump's lop sis, our the White Louse has refused to provide the inormation.
‘we requested, wllen ignoring ew requests completely.

Lp
aoknowedgicg my I

ated ou meeting last week, ancl Twn im receipt of your Jeavagy 11, 2019, eter
oa December 19, 2018, renessing reyes From the Comtaitce’s

* demorandum om Gone! Jstn F Ky, Chiat 0” Stal, Toe Vid, Cone!
(lite Howe eb. 19, “CIN linen Hippy. shing apes. ees documents pois
-hangesto-i sour seomly elena tpn 777,

ar
sero 99a
Me. Pat Cipellone
Page 2

Repuibtican Chairmen in 2017 end 2018, However, the Waits Hone sessonse #9 one seqaess

‘over te past Lon yeurs has heen wl inadequate, Ter exnrape:

» The White House did not provide infoumsation cbour its failure wo suspen the
security clarmmee of Geveral Flynn after Acting Atamey Genera. Sally Yates
personally warsed While Fuss Counsel Don Mean thal Goreral Hymn had
Tied ty View Presiden: Michoel Penoe sn wlaers uboul scurel sewerssioms be aad

ft Ambassador tothe United States?

+The White House did not provide inZormation sbovt its faiase to suspend the
seeurily elemmimes of Senior Advisar to che President Jared! Kushner after Me
Rusliner “sed tn disclose his aven meetings and cxmversitions wth Russian
olficials—and alkived other White Hause officials, aml the American aeorale,to
fe misled about is communications.

+ Vive President Pewee, kis role as head ofthe Transition Team, eid not provi
information about whether the Transition Team subnmilted a soouriy clearance
nalication toe Michael lynn, Jn, the som af General Plyra, despite elairs Put
ne was mensly agssting with seaeduling nase”

©The White Mouse did not pravie ung nonpublic dees hy Forme
Stall Seeretary Robert Parler was allowed in exmtinue working with a
sceurity clearance efter tae Foderal Bureau of Lovestigation (FB) p:ovid
White House with four ropo-ts of dotogetory inzommariox ftom Mr. Poe's
buckyrimd investiguion relating in serious allegations of demeste violsree

+ The White House did no: provide information ahout the repel ejection nf ar
to Sonstive Compartarited lnloemation (C1 far Nala

‘Comms Senior Dicetor Rabin Townley. who served sans othe tn

c= te Genel Flynn.

2 Leter fom Reisng Maser jah, Curningaet a, Carnmises oa Oversight al Goetnes,
Reforin to Reive Piva, Weve aee Chie 1 Stl Uae 21,2017) versa apedemoera
pyetalethouse gexfesedmoctes overs ghtheuse apilcioumerta? C8
21 20Dena Members 20a 20Wake20 louse: 20208 2Ure 20 yareacceskns%

Lever toon Ruskin Merser Utah & Cemmnirgs, Commies aa Oversigt and Govssmmort Ret te
‘i> Posse Wines Pees ae 8,207) (nim at upscale
oversigh- house govisieidemocru erst fotse yvles/2017-12- #20

ves pat

tase fawn Wars 1 hut, Pasi While ase fe Cora Trey Cos
‘Coramits on Oveteght and Geveran Reform Mat 8, 2918 (eine ae aptideraerat-
tneaksiomecaowittatrnaaas ove fiesi20 Miaeatad2o7 SS SSMOGRS AOL cher,

Loner torn Ranking Vee: Flay F, Cuming, Cg Ove el osrmant Ren
Geren Kelly, hte ewe ha! nf Sal (6, 2618 (orline ierrsca=
vgsigh ease gcvistsiéa aera. usrig tose sie BAT6.# HAT RS
Mer, Pal

ipollene

©The White Hocse did not provile infomation about way President Trump's
personal assistan, Joti: Melniee, wis fired amd immediely rushed out of the
‘White House an March 13, 2018, ceporielly because wa nom-spec' fied seeaity

+ The Waite House did cot provide insormation sbout whether custou Nasional
sand work wit

ical who has neve pleted guilly to eangpiting te act
an governmess.*

Sceurity Advisor Jota Rolton tlselosed i's previous coxa
Maris Sutina, a Aussie
as an agent of the Ri

While House 3
Admin'siation were sil working ith inezim security clearances as of
November 2017 and J 12 130 patitica, appointees in the I'xecutive
Otte of the President were working with intecim scout clearances as wl thal
date

+The White Huse is earenily in violtion oF H.R. 3210, the SECRED Act—a law
passed hy oul leu f Congress wih kipnisan syppor aud signed by

President camp on May 22, 2018 requiring ihe While House o subait areaact
to Congress by Angus: 20:8 on its procedures for aljudicaling seeinily
clearances.

Ir aldition tothe exainples abe, news repr
ouher iecidens

sige signiieant questions about

Tet ors onklng Merb iia, Comings, Cora efor bo
General Jot: Kelly, White House Clio" f Sta M3
‘eras pacnaue pusesderieele useteiga 2038 20

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en Overght xe Gove
18 (ene a apsdemocre
20.808

Lote fon Mansing Rletsber bjt L, Cumings, Conafte an Ovesght at Gave We
fare Ranking Member Stepfan F. 13h, Subceti tae on Now! Ser lo teal a kel, Waite Hoses
(Chie ur SecA 26, 0018 (elie apa dere

oversight house gosistedemecie's vaigh tine guint MG1SO8.7U MACHA OL yesh 20K

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Feil se penmisen sect

ors Rankstg Mense Liles =. Curing et a Chair Trey Genel, “hase Cesamisee ea
ort eft sa IC18) fel re 4 psstdemocres

ses emoorts.atssgh hn ge a 20 IR Ha HMSO
SOSPERETM tba fy
Mix Pat Cipallace
Pege 4

© On Muy 1, 2077, the A wactated Press reported thas former Deputy Assistant to
tle President Sehastan Cioska way “unulle o gel ciearacwe far the National
Scouriry Counei” despite being hired into tie West Wing asa courte
advisor, ' Mr, Govka roported’y remalned oa she White House payroll far 207

days

+ On Febreacy 3, 2018, the New Yark Timev roporied thet former Deputy National
Scourity Agvisor X.1 MeFarlsnd svthdrew her norinaim Wy serve as
samtonssador to Singapore after it was zevei
Senate ber involve:nant in phone cslls bet
Arthassador Surgey Kislyns os Decem

eat she miseepreserted ln the
-a Genital Flynn and Russian
216."

For all of those roasons, the Con
documents by 6, 2019, 60

tte requests Ural yu proses Che allowing,
fing tae period Irom: Navetsber 8, 2016, tu the presen

1. Pasuand current White House or White House Persoratel Socuity Otice policies,
prowenls, and practi, as well ws all dhsuarenisveflacling eran ve those
plivies, yruticols, and gruetives, relate to the folowing lapis

ing, adjudicating, cenying, ranting, suspendine, o
rovo'ing background investigations, clearance to work atthe White
House, interim escuriy slearacees, and pormaacut seeswity eieaeaaccs at
the Secret, Tap Secret, and SCT love's and

b.—pteoting seeess to sensitive or elass‘ic! information wo individuals we
‘were convicted of crimes, or are or were ender investigacion by la
erlircemen author

2. All commutications with mowers of President Trump's Transition Tea
forcing or relating 9 the seeking of backround investiations, White louse
Hlesranees, imerim ssearily © caraness, or permanent security clearance
including eommunigalan related inthe withdrawal of upalicaions, ths teporing
derogatory inforezation, and the puteome and daly oF any aljutiation
decisions,

3, Documtss sufficiset to shavr all Wise House emplayess and contactors ha
have agplicé for nekyround investigations, intsrim scoutity slearstecs, 0:

ier Sehnean Govt goat Bays, Aco {ray
re tines compelristvas throm ma event seston ples up als sebuta
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IL

potmnanent security clearances, including the fates an which their applications
‘were sumitfees the dates on whiel the [BI repost uny information to tke White
House: the Gales om which background invest.gaions, Wile inuse clemanees,
inter: sevacity elewwinees, or permanent security elcarances were assessed 07
adjud.eated, o1 she applications witksrswn; the exiceme and date of any

sion or denis! of secmity clea aces

adjudications; and tae -easoms fr any sus

an to show all iacilvidue for vluen the White Hines revoked
br suspended securly cearanees, the dstes of those cevovations or suspensioms,
sad all documerts referring »e wating to those revocstions of suspensivns:

Divcuinents sl

Dacumenss suficiarx
eves ia sensitive oF
under investigation
ennvieted al erim

show all individuals for worn the White House grant

Jay enforcement authurities si who previously were

All documents related to uny aysersments dons by the White House, FBI, se aller
acney folowing the 1evoestion, supersivm, or deal of no intstim or potmtacient
securily clearance fo detemmize the national seearity risk ar pals al exposiue of
nation security in oematiors

Docunmeess sutficiers in ideoviy all cures ancl formes startin the White Howse
Personnel Security Otiee, meludng rans, jo resaeasialitics, spurting
stsuottzes, and roles in the naekraund investigation and security elearsice
aaljadication prove:

All dicunrents relate ww security clearance oc White House eleurance granted te
any White House employee ar appssiriee for whom aay White House Sevurity
Personnel Cffiee persone! ewexmnended an urayorabls adjudication decision
Jncluling the name oF cach subject: the eales othe recommendation ad
Lcisier; dhe reusins fr ihe recomumiendatioa against emplaying or gramling @
socar.ty cerecwe to the sukjeut; the reasons for che tlsimate Gevisis und Th
adjudication and decision axacess;

snemcs of al: indivicusls inlet im the

All documents relate to Generel Kelly’s February (6, 2018, memorandum
surding Pnpravements fe te Cleasance Process, ineludivg all draft,
‘communications, wes, snd zesulis informing the Clearance Review,

All documents related to she hackgroune invesiigetioas, Waite Lhuuve clearances,
and seourity clearances of tah MeFiniee or Robert Porter. ineinding a

‘soramurieations fo ot from tie White House Personne! Sceurity O#ee, the HB,
bor any employce or tke White House Course!"s Ollice or the White Hovse Office
Mi, Pal Cipallone
Page 6

iesidenial Personne

IL documstss velated othe buchprourn’ investigations snd sccutiy eleataces of
John Rollon, Gerzral Micheel Fly, Michae! Flgnn, Ir, Sebestiam Gera, Jaged
Kushrer, K-T. WiePeriand, and Robin Townley, including all communications to
tr an the While Tous: Psonmel Seexxity Otic, the FL, orany employee a!
the White Louse Counsel's Offs or the White Hoss Office af Presidential
Personadl iuchuding:

4. al documsnis and intormation provide fs -esponss to evestions in
Scetions 19, 20A, 20B, and 20C of any seeurily clearance sp harion
renewal applications, or ameat monts submited ver Ue pasl en years

lo Sections 19, 204, 208, and 20€ of any security
cleecance applications, renewal applications, or umeredrents subuaitel
vor the ps

© alleucurentsreaing to
Silence") and Guideline C ("Pore Pre“orence™j nd

dT ehueurneats and information provied by Me Balton,
Me. ys, Ir, Mfr. Gorks, Mr, Kushner, Ms, Mel arand, and Mr
Towaley, o Lair associ‘ lo the Exceutive Oice deat
relating to shele contacts with foreign matiancts over the pest oven Yeats;
and

13. Alldocurren's relsled to LR, 3210, the SECRET Act, ineludiag drafts und
compunieatians regarding the Calire of Dre White Hovse to comply vita che
ring

requicesent to submit w Congress report.on its procsuves for nui

In addition i these docamerts, the Commitiee roquosts transotibed inserviews with all
personne! in the Whize House Perssamel Security O'Tce, lobe sshedaled beginning Febmnary 1
20°,

The Commie on Orvevigat and J

eommilise of the
reny ime” mdr

the principal overs

5 Representatives une has drove aulbericy to investigate “any mater”

Ho.
Louse Rue X. Is additian, louse Rule X, clanse 24) specifica chacges the Civerniues wil
comlusting oversight of the pperat'on of Gavese ment selivities ate levels, iseluding the
sve Otfieo of the President

Am allachmes! ts this Zelter provides adeitional instructions fi respond
Connie's ay questions rogerding this requost, p.case contac! my sia a
Me. Pac Cipokine
Page ?

‘Thark you for your prompc atentos this matter.

Enclosive

ee: The Fonorable Jin fonda, Renking Member
6

Responding to Oversight Committee Document Reanests

puinsive dk

Teor with this reyuest, produce al pments that are in your
possession, custody, or cana), wheter held by you oe your pest of present ages,
‘mployeos, and ceprcscusatives acting on yous bei. Produce all dixauments that ya
have w Tegal righ Wo ublain, that you huve aright to anpy, orto which yon have acee35, as
‘wall es elocumnents that you have pinee in ths tsmporsry passession. custody, comin
col suy dnd patty

‘Requested documents, and all oeumtents isasonably celsted wo the ejusted docuraents,
slhould not be destroyed, altered, removed, cansferred, or otherwise mia
the Committee

In the event thot any entity, organiza, or individual denoted inthis request is or has
been kre by any namo cher ban thal herein donc he rogues shall be rod also to
inelode tha alterariveidensitcation,

rons i wy reese dnoumeninslestronis form (i... C1,

ster in lien of aaper azoductions,

‘The Comisten's ps
mammary sik. thumb drive, or secure

Docu

is produce in electronic frat shoul be ongurved idk, an instened
slesinmicaly

Elgctronie docurtentprodactions shoul he prepared ueoing to the flowing
sununds
4 The production sluuld consist of single page Tagged Image Tile (TIP), Hes

‘companied ay e Cenincanee- formal Id fle, en Opticon referer
file defining che fields and chscastc leugths of tac loed tile

file, anda

Document nurrhers the loa Fils shoe match document Bates numbers an
TIF Fle names,

© [the production is completed Uhmugh a series of multiple partis! progustions,
Id names snd fils order in all lord flss should aaroh.

All elecwonie documenls prodused tothe Covraiteo sould inchide the fllowing
Folds of meladata spesfic to each lacurnett, and np mocificsions saoald be
made t fe original mete dst

BEGDOG, ENDBOC, PEXT, BKGATTACH, ENDATTACH, PAGHCOUNT,
CUSTODIAN, RECORDTYPS, DATE, TIME, SENTDATE, SENTTIME,
BEGINDATE, BEGINTIME, ENDDATE, [NDTIME, ALL HOR, FROM, CO.
10, ICC, SUBIECT, TUL PLAENAME, BILLIXT PIL ISUA
DATHCREATED, TIMECREATED, DATELASTMOD, TIMELASTMOD,
10.

uL

INTMSGID, INTMSGHEADER, NATIVELINK, INTEI PATH, EXCEPTION,
BEGATTACH,

Doeumonts produced te ths Commits shoaléinshde an indox deseribing the concurs
e€ the produetion, ‘To the exon: move than oas CD, hard drive, memory stick, thus
Arive, zip Bile, box, oF folder is prvluced, exch should eomlain am index sessrihing its
contents

Documents produced in nespanse ti This request shal be preduced together 9th eopies of
file lobes. dividers, or identifying meeus wich whick they were associated whew the
Feaquest yas secved,

‘When yon procuce documents, you should ideutify the pacageaplits) or equ
‘Conte's Feller lo which the dicuments reso

‘Te lset that any ollisr pessoa or cally also possesses now identical ur ideutieal copies of
the-same dacuments shal sot hea basis to withhold any information,

‘The pendency of or potential for litigation shall not bea basis to withhold any
information

In aeenvetance with 5 U.8.C§ 552{¢, the Hresdem of Information Act (HOLA) and any
staneuy exematians to FOIA snl] noc bea basis For witabolting any information

Pursuant 5 SC 8
information

5 24(0}(W), Le Privney Act shall no hea hasis Por wth lding

eamplisnee with the request carol he mails in full hy he specie return dats,
compliance shall he ade tothe sxtant passiic by thar ¢acs, An explanation of way tall
complisnce is uot possible shill be provided aloug with avy pasta] production,

In the ever tht « dacument is withheld on th basis nf vivilege, provide & privilege loa
contsining the loleving ieformitioa ceucerning sy such docsuical. (a) every privileg
asserted (h) the iyne of dacumenl; (e) he gemeral schjee mater (dl) re dale, author,
seddcessca at any on rsipisntsy, (6) ths relationship of the author and aeldessce vo
cesel oll; aus (1) ce basis for she puivilegeta asserted

IFany doconent responsive *o this request was but na longer isn yor posssesion,
custody. or cont, ident the docuuneat fy date, author, subject, aud recipient, and
‘esr the circumstances usder which the dicument ceased ta he fn your piso,
sunody, or contol.

Ia due or other deseritive detail set fo i this reyes referring to a docemant is

fut the weil daz or ulher ceseripine deal is krwsin ws you or is ener
pparenr ftom the context of the recuest, procce ell documents that would be responsive
as iTze date or olber deseriptive det were corre
‘This request is carsinving in oerure end applies to ny nevely discovered information,
Any sccoxl, €ocumsnt, copilaion o! Cal, wr information rat produced eeause thas
pot heen Tocated or dissnvered hy the roturs dats shall be predcod immodistely upon.
suhsoqvenr Ineation or diseavary,

All docurmerts shall be Tateestumped! sequentially td prodveee sequentially

‘sso sos uf exch putuetion shll he delivere, one seo She Mnjoviny StnFFand one sot
loth: Minority Sia Wher eocument ero produced to the Coauuttee, production
shal be caliveced to the Me evity Stal in Roou 2157 uf the Rayhurn Meuse Oise
Building and the Minority SlatT uta wm af their designation.

pon eotuplotion ofthe production, subsni a wrillen cerieation, signed hy yowe or your
counsel, sacing that: (1) a diligent search has been snmpletad of rl costmneats ia your
possession, custody, or carol thst reasouably ould contain respunsive dycumens ara
(2) al, documents located during the search that are responsive have heen prntaced to tho
Commitee.

Definitions

The tern “Uocurnen.” means any writen, rssonded, or graphic mater at any nate
whusipever, egsrllss af Aw rosarced, 2d wheter ofigiacl ox capy, including, bat ro
limited to, the folowing: meworuda, rezorts, expense report, bok, manuals,
isiructions, Gnawa neports, data, working papers. reco, nares eters, matics,
sanlirmations, llegrams, recep, appraisals, pampbles, magazines, newepagers,
rospocuses, cominunicetines, electoaic mal (ex), vonracts, cables, notions ay
type of couvezsa.ou,icleplie call, zneeting or olker intsr-ollize or intra office
ccarmmunicaton, bulletins, pried matter, core: prinaurs, teletype, invokes,
transcripts, ciarios, mnalyses, rece. svaunerics, minutes, bls, eccounls, estimates,
rocoto, eompsrisons. messes, correspunderce, press releases, circulars, financial

opinions, aller, slues and investigations, qvestiomnalss sud
surveys, and work shoot (aad all drafts preliminary versions, alleralions, moi eations,
revisions, changes, anc azneadumenis uf aay of the loregning, as well as mny atlachmen's
‘or appendices thereto} anal ymrphie or eva? reson or ropresentetioas of eay sid
{frelading witha limiation, pherograps, cst, axspis, mtictoliee, rica lim,
videotape, rovordangs sea wun pictures) and elec, mechanical, ane alectric
records or representations nf any kin’ finelucing, withont linctation, rapes, cassettes,
disks, and recordings} aod other writen printed, ‘ype or olher wphic wr recone
imater of any cid or natue, however pmoduced or rennluced, unl whether proscrvod in
veting, ze, pe, dis, videotape, or obserwiae, document boating oxy tation wel &
partof the originl txt is ty be considered a separste document. A drafz0r non-identical
sony isa seaarnte document within the nennne of Us erm.

The kam “simmunieason” means each manner or means of Giscloaure or exchiae of
inirmation, regardless of meeus wilized, sybetber ora, electronic, by Uneument ot