President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner was denied a security clearance last year by the White House personnel security office but the decision was overruled by a political appointee, according to a new report.
The Washington Post reported Wednesday evening that whistleblower Tricia Newbold told staff members of the House Oversight Committee that another career employee in the security office and herself ruled Kushner had enough "significant disqualifying factors" that his clearance was denied for his role as a senior White House adviser.
Carl Kline, a political appointee who heads the White House security office, reportedly told Newbold the issues discovered in Kushner's background — concerns regarding foreign influence, his business interests outside of government, and his personal conduct — happened before he became a government employee. Kline then signed off on Kushner's application to receive a top secret clearance May 1, 2018 — more than 12 months after the process began.
Security clearance issues have dogged Kushner for months. It was reported in February Trump ordered then-White House chief of staff John Kelly to give Kushner a clearance last year — a request Kelly documented in writing because he was uncomfortable with it.
In an interview this week, Kushner said he complied with all investigations and disclosed all of his business holdings when he applied for the clearance.
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