452: Fessing Up to Security Clearance Sex Lies | Feedback Friday

Clearance Risks

Navigating the complexities of security clearance can be daunting, especially when personal affairs intersect with professional responsibilities. Jordan Harbinger explains that vetting agencies focus on patterns of behavior that could lead to compromise, using a framework called Micer—money, ideology, coercion, ego, and revenge—to assess trustworthiness 1. He emphasizes that personal relationships, like consensual affairs, are not typically compromising unless they open one up to blackmail. Gabriel Mizrahi shares a listener's story about a past affair with a colleague, which was not disclosed during a security clearance interview, raising concerns about potential repercussions 2.

Neither of you were married when the affair took place. So it doesn't really open you up to blackmail.

--- Jordan Harbinger

Understanding the true risks involved is crucial for anyone in similar situations.

   

Disclosure Dilemma

Deciding whether to disclose past affairs involves weighing emotional and practical considerations. Gabriel Mizrahi suggests that personal feelings might be influencing the desire to come clean, rather than professional necessity 3. He advises seeking therapy to address these emotions, as security agencies are not equipped to resolve personal conflicts. Jordan Harbinger highlights the importance of determining whether a lie was explicitly told during the clearance interview, as this impacts the need to disclose 4.

If you explicitly lied, then you might have to come clean, but you're going to have to weigh the upside of that against the considerable downside.

--- Jordan Harbinger

Ultimately, the decision should be informed by both legal advice and personal reflection.