A General Services Administration (GSA) government employee with a Top Secret security clearance and Special Compartmented Information access was investigated by the GSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) regarding allegations of misuse of a government travel card, traveling to China without notifying his agency, not reporting foreign contacts, falsifying a security clearance application, and hiding personal assets during the course of filing for bankruptcy.
Details of the investigation were revealed in a Washington Times article that outlined the specific allegations and the GSA’s response. The OIG investigation disclosed that Mr. Wear, a grade GS-14 GSA civil service employee whose responsibilities included acting as the main point of contact for U.S. intelligence agencies using GSA contract services, failed to report two felony charges on his security clearance application submitted in 2009. Additionally, Mr. Wear failed to disclose the fact that he owned his own airplane when listing all of his personal assets as a requirement for filing for bankruptcy in 2008. The investigation also disclosed that as a senior government employee, he was required to fill out financial disclosure forms in accordance with government ethics regulations and did not disclose required information.
Foreign Contacts, Undisclosed Trip to China
Other red flags raised by the OIG investigation were the failure to report numerous foreign contacts, travel to China, and receiving gifts from Chinese nationals. There were also indications that Chinese intelligence may have gotten access to Mr. Wear’s government cell phone that he left in his hotel room unsecure and obtained data from it that included intelligence community contacts. The number of security violations committed by Mr. Wear is astounding. As a TS/SCI clearance holder, he was required to receive a counterintelligence briefing prior to going to China and then be debriefed after returning. He was also required to report all foreign travel and contacts, and obtain permission to bring any government equipment to a foreign country, especially China. His failure to follow established procedures and requirements has put national security at risk.
Upon completion of their investigation the OIG provided all of their findings to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, however, prosecutors there have declined to prefer charges and did not provide an explanation as to why. There is speculation that more may be involved and further investigation is ongoing.
Clearance Suspended ‘Pending Review’
According to the article, GSA officials have declined to acknowledge whether or not they knew about any of these issues previously and would not comment on what type of disciplinary actions Mr. Wear may be facing. The only confirmation given was that his security clearance was suspended pending review of all of the information and a decision as to whether to revoke his clearance. Mr. Wear remains on the GSA rolls as a government employee, albeit with duties that do not require a security clearance.
