Jeremiah Smith: “At the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, USA Today reported that felons, convicted felons--I want my colleagues to…”

“At the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, USA Today reported that felons, convicted felons--I want my colleagues to listen carefully here--convicted felons, including a murderer, individuals with chronic alcohol and drug abuse problems, a pedophile, an exhibitionist--all received security clearances in order to work for defense contractors. I want to repeat that because I think most people would say, you have to be kidding, that really happened? The answer is yes, which is why this amendment is so urgently needed. This was investigative reporting by USA Today that reported that a murderer, people with chronic alcohol and drug abuse problems, a pedophile, and an exhibitionist received security clearance to work for defense contractors. There was another individual who was awarded a clearance while on probation for bank fraud. Yet another was allowed to keep his clearance after taking part in a $2 million fraud against the U.S. Navy. Another had a history of criminal sexual misconduct for which he was still undergoing therapy. For goodness' sake, I say to my colleagues, most of us and the American people would say: Gee, to get a security clearance, that is a big deal; you get to see all the secrets.”