Background Check Official Says He’s ‘Never Seen’ Mistakes Like Kushner’s

FILE - In this Friday, Aug. 11, 2017 file photo, White House senior adviser Jared Kushner listens as President Donald Trump answer questions regarding the ongoing situation in North Korea, at Trump National Golf Club... FILE - In this Friday, Aug. 11, 2017 file photo, White House senior adviser Jared Kushner listens as President Donald Trump answer questions regarding the ongoing situation in North Korea, at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. The Palestinians are hoping for some clear answers from the U.S. when White House envoy Jared Kushner returns to the region this week. Kushner, who is Trump's son-in-law, is expected to meet with Israeli and Palestinian officials on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, as he tries to restart talks. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File) MORE LESS
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The official who oversees background checks for most of the federal government told Congress on Wednesday that he has never seen as many mistakes on a background check form as Jared Kushner has made.

Charles Phelan, the director of the National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB), oversees background checks for most of the federal government but did not handle President Trump’s son-in-law and adviser’s security clearance application.

During a Wednesday House Oversight subcommittee hearing, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) noted that Kushner had to submit an addendum to his SF-86 security clearance form four times after omitting contacts with foreign officials.

“Can you recall if there has ever been an applicant having to submit four addenda detailing over 100 errors and omissions being able to maintain their security clearance once those errors and omission have been identified?” Krishnamoorthi asked Phelan.

“I have not seen the breadth of all the applications, but I have never seen that level of mistakes,” Phelan replied.

Phelan added that the NBIB had not handled Kushner’s security clearance.

“I don’t know in the particular cases you’re talking about because we had no visibility in our organization into any of those activities. Those were done by other organizations,” he said.

Earlier in the hearing, Phelan also noted that the online form for security clearances is built in such a way that it’s easy for applicants to make mistakes.

In a statement Thursday, Jamie Gorelick, Kushner’s attorney, reiterated that his form “was prematurely submitted and, among other errors, did not list any contacts with foreign government officials,” and that it had been quickly updated.

H/t CNN

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Notable Replies

  1. Bullshit on the “prematurely submitted.” As has been reported, an aide could not have done this as passwords were needed at multiple junctures of the submission process. When will Jared by held accountable for all the omissions, including “forgetting” to include a huge business holding? Can you imagine if a Democrat had done this? Hannity, Limbaugh, etc, would be screaming at the top of their lungs and Trey Gowdy would be convening a hearing.

  2. And then there is this:

    My point being, every week it seems some new “omission” gets revealed.

    Its been a never ending parade of omissions on every disclosure form he has filled out. Hell, he couldn’t even his gender correct on his voter registration forms (in either NY or NJ!!)

    Same goes with his private email use, which after being specifically told by Congress not to move them, he promptly moved the entire server into Trump Org.

    This is the one Trump underling I personally am going to enjoy watching Mueller skin alive the most.

  3. Ha ha … yeah … ’ mistakes ’ … he he –

  4. Such BS. “I have read the instructions and I understand that if I withhold, misrepresent, or falsify information on this form, I am subject to the penalties for inaccurate or false statement (per U.S. Criminal Code, Title 18, section 1001), denial or revocation of a security clearance, and/or removal and debarment from Federal service.”

    I guess when it comes to this administration laws are just completely ignored.

  5. Avatar for erik_t erik_t says:

    “Mistakes”

    Anybody who’s ever filled out an SF-86 knew to take it as seriously as a goddamn brain tumor.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

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