Rep. Ruben Gallego Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Security Clearance Vetting for Relatives of the President
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, introduced legislation to strengthen the process through which relatives of the President of the United States can obtain security clearances and thus gain access to our government's most sensitive information.
The bill comes one day after it was revealed in the Wall Street Journal that Jared Kushner had omitted significant financial interests from his government disclosure forms—including a stake in a tech start-up and more than $1 billion in loans—and one month after it was reported that Kushner had neglected to include dozens of contacts with foreign officials in his security clearance application.
The Security Clearance Family Review Act would require the Office of Government Ethics to review applications submitted by family members of the President to determine whether they have substantial commercial relationships with foreign enterprises or financial institutions and, if so, whether a relative should be ineligible for a security clearance as a consequence of such a relationship.
"One of the things that used to distinguish American democracy was that family members of the President didn't use his high office to enrich themselves," said Rep. Gallego. "Unfortunately, we don't have any meaningful assurances that the new occupants of the White House are upholding this proud tradition. That's why I introduced the Security Clearance Family Review Act.
"Jared Kushner has vast international interests totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. He also has an expansive portfolio at the White House that includes everything from US policy in Iraq to the Middle East peace process to relations with Mexico. He's even the go-to person in the Administration for the Chinese Ambassador.
"Is Kushner vulnerable to foreign financial influence? Should he have access to our government's most sensitive secrets? Without a rigorous review of his holdings by the Office of Government Ethics, these crucial questions will remain unanswered and the American people will remain in the dark. Congress should demand a tough, thorough vetting process before members of the President's family can get a security clearance."
The legislation is supported by the Democratic Whip, Steny Hoyer: "Rep. Gallego's bill represents a smarter approach to the White House appointment and security clearance process than the current system, which does not cover the President's family as part of nepotism laws. A key difference between our system and that of a banana republic is the transparency of our government and the fundamental requirement that public officials serve the people's interest, not their own or their relatives'. This President's choice of appointees has cast doubt on this system, and Rep. Gallego's bill is an effective and important response."