I’ve been denied a PT and suitability and both instances totally ignored mitigation and scope. The suitability denial listed “criminal conduct” for a thirty year-old misdemeanor charge that was dismissed, sealed and expunged after six months. It also listed a termination from 16 years ago for a misconduct that has not been repeated since and I completed counseling that I undertook on my own 13 years ago. It seems that all those “regulations” and “directives” can be ignored if an agency wants to.
What is PT? Unfortunately, this is very common and dumb. I was put in same boat for something i didn’t even do but i had a clearance denial after being on a contract for a year already. They don’t give you benefit of the doubt, nor do they even investigate to see if things are true in many regards.
I don’t think “suitability” is governed by SEAD, nor does it offer the same appeal options as when a security clearance is denied.