I spent 40 years as a cleared DOD employee, first in the military and then as a defense contractor. The goat ropes we had to go through for background investigation to become cleared were initially lengthy and regularly revisited. I was and remain appalled that the elected officials for this country do not go through the near cavity search level of background examinations that other cleared personnel must endure. The system is grossly negligent in allowing character flaws and criminal intent to endanger the lives of security personnel and the billions dollar hi tech assets of the nation's intelligence community. I would hope that recent history trumpets the error in this system into the public consciousness and that correcting it and the flawed campaign finance system now in play will be high priority items for the next administration in order to preserve the long-term security of this nation and its democratic process.
I spent 40 years as a cleared DOD employee, first in the military and then as a defense contractor. The goat ropes we had to go through for background investigation to become cleared were initially lengthy and regularly revisited. I was and remain appalled that the elected officials for this country do not go through the near cavity search level of background examinations that other cleared personnel must endure. The system is grossly negligent in allowing character flaws and criminal intent to endanger the lives of security personnel and the billions dollar hi tech assets of the nation's intelligence community. I would hope that recent history trumpets the error in this system into the public consciousness and that correcting it and the flawed campaign finance system now in play will be high priority items for the next administration in order to preserve the long-term security of this nation and its democratic process.