THEY GOWDY, SOUTH CAROLINA ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS, MARYLAND

CHAIRMAN RANKING MINORITY MEMBER

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COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM
2157 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING

WASHINGTON, DC 20515?6143

MMGHITY [202} 225?50?4
MINUFIITY {202} 225?5051

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February 14, 2018

The Honorable Christopher Wray
Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Department of Justice

935 Avenue NW
Washington, DC. 20530

Dear Mr. Wray:

Yesterday, you testified the FBI completed its security clearance background
investigation of former White House staff secretary Rob Porter last year.? This statement may
contradict a statement by White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders on Monday in which she
said the White House ?learned the extent of the situation involving Rob Porter last Tuesday
evening [February 6, 2018]? and at the time it ?was ongoing, hadn?t been completed.?2

The Committee is investigating the policies and processes by which interim security
clearances are investigated and adjudicated within the Executive Branch, and the extent to which
any security clearance issued to Porter comported with those policies and processes. In
particular, the Committee seeks to better understand the criteria and the scope of an investigation
for determining whether to issue an interim security clearance generally; what information was
available to the adjudicator of Porter?s interim clearance at the time it was adjudicated; who
adjudicated his clearance; and what derogatory information was subsequently made available to
the White House on Porter, when, and to whom.

To assist the Committee?s oversight of this matter, please provide information suf?cient
to show:

1. Policies, practices, and procedures relating to the investigation and issuance of interim
security clearances, including interim clearances for White House personnel;

2. Whether the FBI played any role in the adjudications of Porter?s interim and final
clearance, and if so whether the adjudications were consistent with the policies, practices,
and procedures identi?ed in item 

 

Worldwide Threats: Hearing before the S. Select Comm. on Intelligence, 1 15th Cong. (Feb. 13, 2018).
2 Press Brie?ng by Sarah Sanders, Press Secretary, February 12, 2018, available at
1 2 1 

The Honorable Christopher Wray
February 14, 2018
Page 2

3. The date on which any White House employee was noti?ed of potential derogatory or
disqualifying information on Porter from the date of his appointment to February 12,
2018, and which individual was so noti?ed; and

4. The security clearance adjudication dates for Porter, including both interim and ?nal
clearance.

Provide the requested information as soon as possible, but no later than February 28,
2018. Under Rule X, clause 1(n) of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform has jurisdiction over the federal civil service, management of
government operations, and government records, which include classi?cation of those records,
security clearances, and personnel background investigations.

Please contact Steve Castor of the majority staff at (202) 225-5074 with any questions
about this request. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

 

 

Trey Gowdy

Enclosure

cc: The Honorable Elijah E. Cummings