Worried about Public Trust interview, should I be?

SECURITY CLEARANCE Q&A
1

So about 2 years ago , I applied for a Public Trust clearance for an internship at the Department of Justice. I was able to work there for a summer without an issue but I don’t think I ever officially got cleared, I then worked there again during another semester of school.

During that semester, I was called into a meeting regarding my clearance application, it turns out that I had accidentally (im not sure how this happened) but I put down a previous employment I had under the federal contractor label or something along those lines–this was NOT any governement organization, it was a private organization I worked at. On my form, I admitted to smoking marijuana during that period.

I was called it and I explained the mix up and they were like, ‘oh okay, that clears things up then.’ Obviously, they didnt want someone who was working as a federal contractor and breaking federal law at the same time. That makes sense.

So we still went through my entire application essentially line by line and after it was all over they asked if I had left anything out. Now, I didn’t intentionally leave anything out i thought was what they were asking. However, there was a question about illegal drug use during the past 5 years (maybe it was last 10 years?). I wanted to let them know, out of abundance of caution and because I didn’t want to feel them to feel I was leaving anything out–that I had tried psychoactive mushrooms once when I was abroad in amsterdam where it was legal.

It was my assumption that when they said they wanted to know illegal substances, that I stated what susbstances I used that were illegal in the United States. I understand that is not what they were technically asking for, but given the context of what they were asking and why, I felt like I answered the question correctly when I first filled out the SF85.

Anyway, the interviewer made it seem like everything was okay and I was forward about everything they asked about. However, I have not heard back yet and it has been nearly a year. Is that the type of thing that would be an automatic denial? I have never been arrested or charged with a crime, have never done any hard drugs or have any debts.

How concerned should I be?

2

I don’t think you will actually get status updates on sf-85p (even when completed). I think your CSO or possibly HR dept has to check on it.

3

thank you for your insight!

4

There’s a lot going on here. First of all, a public trust investigation does not result in a security clearance. Second of all, you did not answer the drug question correctly. It doesn’t matter if it was legal where you were during use. If it’s federally illegal, it needs to be listed. Thirdly, an investigator would never tell you whether you are “fine” or not because we don’t make those decisions.

1 Like
5

The drug question is different on many of the forms. 5 years, 7 years, ever, etc etc. Depending on your form you may or may not have answered it “correctly”. If you volunteered information that you did not need to report that will probably delay the decision/adjudication. The form most frequently asks if you have used any illegal drugs in the last 7 years. Some investigators will (rightly or wrongly) attempt to solicit additional admittance from you by throwing in some “evers” where they aren’t required.

6

You are unrealistic in your expectation that all Americans know the intricacies of the federal drug laws. Investigations involve imperfect humans. Be wary of throwing the word “correctly” around too often. It can bite.

7

Imperfect or not, there’s a correct way to answer that question and they didn’t. That’s how the investigative process works. Hope that helps.