House Oversight Committee and Security Clearance issue

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The White House has not been cooperative in a growing probe of security clearances given to members of the Trump Administration, says Chairman of the House Oversight Committee. The allegation comes on the heels of a stunning report on Thursday in the New York Times. The report pointed out 4 sources who claimed former chief of staff John Kelly said President Donald Trump ordered him to get a top-level security clearance for his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. But, it hasn’t independently confirmed the report which cites a memo written by Kelly.

Trump informed The New York Times last month that he was never involved in his Jared’s security clearance. Ivanka Trump said earlier this month in an exclusive interview with ABC News’ Abby Huntsman. She said, “The president had no involvement pertaining to my clearance or my husband’s clearance, zero”. The House Oversight Committee recently announced its own security clearance investigation, including a review of Kushner’s clearance.

Chairman Elijah Cummings said in a statement Thursday, “The security clearance process is supposed to function in an even-handed and neutral manner based on the national security interests of the United States. This latest report indicates that President Trump may have granted access to our most sensitive classified information to his son-in-law against the advice of career staff. It is directly contradicting the President’s public denials that he played any role”.

The White House has experienced mounting questions for months regarding issues with security clearances for dozens of administration officials who were operating under temporary clearances well into 2018. 2 of the president’s top aides, former White House staff secretary Rob Porter and personal aide John McEntee were departed the White House after flags were raised in their respective clearances.

The former Homeland Security official, John Cohen said, “It is highly usual for the president to override security officials and instruct them to grant a security clearance to someone who has been deemed high risk. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement on Thursday, “The security clearance process is one of the ways we protect our nation’s most sensitive secrets. And while the president has the authority to override the process, it doesn’t mean he should because it may place our national security at risk. We don’t comment on security clearances”.