White House officials seeking security clearance are being asked if they could be blackmailed


It has been an awkward few weeks for the White House. When former Staff Secretary Rob Porter was publicly accused of physically and verbally abusing his ex-wives, the White House struggled to get its story straight, with Chief of Staff John Kelly claiming he demanded Porter's resignation within 40 minutes of understanding the severity of the allegations last week, while FBI Director Christopher Wray said he first briefed the White House on Porter in March 2017.
Concerns about how Porter lasted so long in the White House are multifaceted, although one branch is focused on national security — chiefly, that Porter had interim security clearance while his full clearance status was pending. Due to the abuse allegations against him, Porter was theoretically susceptible to blackmail, and therefore posed a national security threat.
In order to nip similar scandals in the bud, the White House has reportedly distributed supplemental questions to some of the more than 130 officials who lacked full security clearances as of November. The questions, which are not included on the official government questionnaire, inquire "whether anything in their backgrounds — or those of family members — could pose a conflict of interest, be a source of embarrassment, or be used to blackmail them," NBC News writes. Another question asks: "Are you aware of any reason not discussed above that may call into question your suitability to serve in public office?"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Aides who had forms of interim security clearance as of November include Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, White House counsel Don McGahn, and White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein