Dem's New Bill Aims to Bar QAnon Followers From Security Clearances

[Wicked Blue]

Daily Beast
Sam Brodey, Congressional Reporter

Among the MAGA flags and “Stop the Steal” signs that festooned the sea of rioters who invaded the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 was the abundant stamp of another conspiracy movement—QAnon—that nursed the election-fraud lies that fueled the crowd.

Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) was already struck at how the Capitol attack demonstrated the growing influence of conspiracy theories like QAnon—a wide-ranging set of unfounded beliefs encompassing election lies and fantasies of depravity by those in power—which drove adherents to a violent plot to keep Donald Trump in power by any means necessary.

Then came the report that at least 22 current or former members of the U.S. military or law enforcement were found to have been at or near the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, according to a Jan. 15 review by the Associated Press, with more reportedly under investigation by federal officials.

A former Pentagon official, Murphy quickly drew up a bill designed to block QAnon believers, and other conspiracy followers, from obtaining the security clearances required to access classified federal government information.


https://www.thedailybeast.com/dems-new-bill-aims-to-bar-qanon-followers-from-security-clearances?ref=home

[arlyellowdog]

1. What about the ones who already have them

[Wicked Blue]

2. Security clearances can be revoked nt

[Best_man23]

6. And they are subject to routine review

[LAS14]

3. Why do they need a bill for this? Would one of these people ever get a clearance anyway????? nt

[mr_lebowski]

4. I can't really get behind denying them clearances SOLELY on those grounds ...

And especially not codifying such a thing.

There's probably something else wrong with them that you can use.

For example, psychological testing using markers that are likely to reveal the sort of thinking that makes them susceptible to propaganda, and hence poor candidates for receiving classified info (but not specific to Qanon and the like).

[BComplex]

10. I totally disagree. Those grounds solely disqualify them. Other things might enhance the

disqualification, but those Qanon people are already way over the line.

[mr_lebowski]

12. Yes, well ... I'm not sure that's taking as broad of an outlook on this as is probably necessary ...

I'd rather not focus on one particular wacky belief, and instead focus on denying the clearances based on science, using psychological markers that indicate proclivity to believe in wacky shit in general.

Not only do you avoid playing whack-a-mole against every new, stupid conspiracy theory by this means, but it's also a lot easier to present the idea as being based on science rather than politics.

MHO ...

[Best_man23]

5. I would 100% agree with this

One of the questions on the SF-86 asks if you are part of any effort to overthrow or if you have ever conspired against the US Government. If you're part of lowiQanon, then that question answers itself.

[mr_lebowski]

13. Simply believing in QAnon doesn't require a 'yes' to either of those questions (nt)

[Bluethroughu]

7. Mental deficit is clearly the case with these people

I hope this includes the Representatives in the House or Senate.

[BlueIdaho]

8. "Are you now or have you ever been a member of the QAnon movement?"

See how easy that is?

[ananda]

9. I approve that message.

Just do it!

[allnews]

11. Definitely! They are not in touch with reality at all

Therefore they could prove very dangerous, especially as they always need their guns. For the couple already there in Congress-just throw them out. They will have no value there.
I work in nuclear power plant and it really bothers me when I realize so many of these elected officials would not even pass what we go through. We have metal detectors always, puffers, drug tests, psychological evaluations, and financial. There’s no hiding any finances etc if you want a badge. Any discrepancies must be explained. But the president wouldn’t even show taxes.