Dozens of White House employees are awaiting permanent security clearances and have been working for months with temporary approvals to handle sensitive information while the FBI continues to probe their backgrounds, according to U.S. officials. People familiar with the security-clearance process said one of those White House officials with an interim approval is Jared Kushner — the president’s son-in-law and one of his most influential advisers. The issue of clearances has become a major area of concern since White House staff secretary Rob Porter resigned after allegations surfaced that he had been violent toward his two ex-wives — accusations he has denied. [Senior White House official to resign after allegations of abuse] White House spokesman Raj Shah defended the administration’s handling of the matter, saying it was following proper procedure in letting the investigation proceed. “We should not short-circuit an investigation just because allegations are made,’’ he said. “The truth must be determined, and that is what was going on with Rob Porter.” Porter, according to officials, was interviewed by the FBI in September, when he was asked about the alleged domestic violence. Shah added that Porter received “no special treatment” in the handling of his case. National security lawyer Mark Zaid, who represents government employees going through the security-clearance process, said it is not necessarily sinister that dozens of White House employees lack clearance. He said the Trump White House, in particular, might be going through the clearance process slowly because those working there have not previously been in… [Read full story]
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