Gowdy letter to Kelly (WH) re: Rob Porter security clearance

THEY GOWDY, SOUTH CAROLINA ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS, MARYLAND CHAIRMAN RANKING MINORITY MEMBER @ungress at the Tle?tth ?tatea 39mm of Representatives ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM 2157 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515?6143 MAJORITY (2 22 5?5074 {202] 225?5051 February 14, 2018 The Honorable John F. Kelly Chief of Staff The White House Washington, DC. 20006 Dear Gen. Kelly: Yesterday, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Christopher Wray testi?ed the FBI completed its security clearance background investigation of former White House staff secretary Rob Porter last year.1 This statement may contradict a statement by White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders on Monday in which she said the White House ?learned the extent of the situation involving Rob Porter last Tuesday evening [February 6, 2018]? and at the time it ?was ongoing, hadn?t been completed.?2 The Committee is investigating the policies and processes by which interim security clearances are investigated and adjudicated within the Executive Branch, and the extent to which any security clearance issued to Porter comported with those policies and processes. In particular, the Committee seeks to better understand the criteria and the scope of an investigation for determining whether to issue an interim security clearance generally; what information was available to the adjudicator of Porter?s interim clearance at the time it was adjudicated; who adjudicated his clearance; and what derogatory information was subsequently made available to the White House on Porter, when, and to whom. To assist the Committee?s oversight of this matter, please provide information suf?cient to show: 1. Policies, practices, and procedures relating to the investigation and issuance of interim security clearances, including interim clearances for White House personnel; 2. Whether the adjudications of Porter?s interim and ?nal clearance were consistent with the policies, practices, and procedures identi?ed in item Worldwide Threats: Hearing before the S. Select Comm. on Intelligence, 115th Cong. (Feb. 13, 2018). 2 Press Brie?ng by Sarah Sanders, Press Secretary, February 12, 2018, available at I 2 1 The Honorable John F. Kelly February 14, 2018 Page 2 3. The date on which any White House employee became aware of potential derogatory or disqualifying information on Porter from the date of his appointment to February 12, 2018, and which individual was so noti?ed; and 4. The security clearance adjudication dates for Porter, including both interim and ?nal clearance. Provide the requested information as soon as possible, but no later than February 28, 2018. Under Rule X, clause 1(n) of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has jurisdiction over the federal civil service, management of government operations, and government records, which include classi?cation of those records, security clearances, and personnel background investigations. Please contact Steve Castor of the majority staff at (202) 225-5074 with any questions about this request. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Trey Gowdy Enclosure cc: The Honorable Elijah E. Cummings