Suspected U.S. shooter had 'secret' clearance, employer says

[Ichingcarpenter]

Source: reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Aaron Alexis, the 34-year-old suspect in Monday's shooting rampage at the Washington Navy Yard, had "secret" clearance and was assigned to start working there as a civilian contractor with a military-issued ID card, his firm's chief executive told Reuters.

"He did have a secret clearance. And he did have a CAC (common access card)," said Thomas Hoshko, CEO of The Experts Inc, which was helping service the Navy Marine Corps Intranet as a subcontractor for HP Enterprise Services, part of Hewlett-Packard Co.

Alexis, of Forth Worth, Texas, is suspected of opening fire at the Naval Sea Systems Command building in the Washington Navy Yard in a shooting that left 13 people dead, including the shooter.

Asked when Alexis was supposed to start work, Hoshko said in a telephone interview: "That's what I got to find out, if he was supposed to start today ... It's not clear to me."


Read more: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/suspected-u-shooter-had-secret-clearance-employer-says-010927653.html

---

WTF? He had shooting blackouts before in 2004 and he got a recent secret clearance?


Who did the check on him
Wal-Mart?

[MiniMe]

1. Just what we need, the NRA is doing background checks now.

[AtheistCrusader]

2. The FBI performs them, for most things.

I've sent in many a set of fingerprints.

[struggle4progress]

3. Actually, contractors do many of the background checks

[sir pball]

12. They do the processing, paperwork, so forth and so on, to gov't standards

But the actual "digging" and actual issuing of clearance comes from the Feds. Even for guest contractors at second-tier National Labs, at least in my case. I still have my cute little letter from the FBI somewhere; it read something along the lines of "at Bechtel's request we've done a check and you're clear." We know they like their secrets, they don't let just anybody go clearing people for them.

[seabeckind]

13. That just means that the contract is let by the FBI

it doesn't mean they actually do anything. In fact, with the cut in staff that we've seen over the last few decades it's a wonder they have anybody left who can write a contract. And they probably don't and contract that too.

The actual security "check" by the contractor probably consists of a credit check and a google search.

Can't make money if the contractor spends more than 2 minutes on each case or has somebody who has more than a high school ed doing it or who makes more than minimum wage.

Yep, just like the kid helping you at Lowes.

[momrois]

15. As one who is responsible for submitting background checks

for foster care, I must say the backgrounds I've been receiving in the past few months are much more detailed than what I received just six months ago. In fact, in one instance, our agency received a clear background in March, and when all the backgrounds were updated in May and June, that one person had and extensive background come back. The feds are being more diligent if my experience is any indication.

On the other hand, I'd like to know how these people passed security background checks.

[seabeckind]

17. Low bidder

or some other factor in the choice of the security checker.

I'd guess that your agency cares much more and does more indepth and has probably bumped a few bad apples back at the checkers. So they spend a little more time on your cases. They also look for different things.

In the case of the fed, it's real easy to get a contractor but next to impossible to get rid of them. Most times when a contractor gets kicked out all that happens is that the people working for that contractor get a different ID card. Change the name and then back to the status quo.

[snagglepuss]

23. This needs to be an OP or a book even. Not only does it sounds like you know

exactly what's happening but you have an very engaging style.

[sir pball]

22. Could be. They explicitly claimed to have done it, "in accordance with such-and-such statute"

Granted this was back in the spring of 02,"national security" was a bit more on the mind then, and the budget wasn't such a laugh.

Energy has always been more protective of their secrets than Defense or State (and more secure, I don't think this clown would have made it past the gate at BNL back then) - mine was basically just an ID verification but as far as I know it was done in the same structure that handles Q clearances. I dunno.

[struggle4progress]

33. Contractor Behind Snowden Vetting Did Washington Shooter Check

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014599005

[dotymed]

4. Probably ....CHOICEPOINT!

The very same company that disenfranchised thousands of voters in Fl. and AL.
When I was an active Union Carpenter, with about 7-8 background checks successfully completed for Eli Lilly, they hired CHOICEPOINT after they were so successful scrubbing voter roles for repubs for the 2000 elections.
After so many correct background checks, CHOICEPOINT (when hired) reported me as a convicted felon (erroneously). Even after 5-6 months of trying to clear my name, so I could work my yearly 2-3 month shutdown there (about $25,000 each year) and a call by CHOICEPOINT to me and Eli Lilly's stating they had made a mistake, I was never allowed on Eli Lilly property again.
My phone call came with an offer to attend orientation to start a project for Lilly's. When I showed up, I was given the "Bums Rush" and escorted off the property by the law.
Even my Union would not go against powerful Eli Lilly's and Eli Lilly's had already backed CHOICEPOINT.
Now CHOICEPOINT does all background checks for GOP affiliated interests.....

[another_liberal]

5. What a goddamned nightmare!

Maybe if you were really a felon they would have cleared for top secret access?

[Tanuki]

18. How awful! Couldn't you sue for damages? nt

[struggle4progress]

34. Contractor Behind Snowden Vetting Did Washington Shooter Check

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014599005

[enough]

6. k&r (nt)

[raccoon]

7. Must've been WalMart. nt

[another_liberal]

8. He must have been an NRA member . . .

I think that by-passes the vetting process. Once they see you're a dues paying member, I guess you're in everywhere.

[LannyDeVaney]

9. Some clearance info

The clearance process was most likely contracted out, and I believe secret clearances are good for 10 years.

Also, the vetting process for a secret clearance is nowhere near as detailed as that for a top secret clearance (additionally, a TS is good for only 5 years). His secret clearance was most likely just so he could get on base everyday to work without having to get a visitor's pass and walk the grounds without an escort.

[appleannie1]

10. A 2 second internet query

http://www.justmugshots.com/texas/fort-worth/814064

Aaron Alexis
Name: Aaron Alexis
Location:
Fort Worth, TX Browse Tarrant County Mugshots
Age: 31 years
Arrest Date: 2010-09-04
JustMugshots ID: 814064
Charges: Pc 42.12(b) Ma Discharge Firearm Ce

[seabeckind]

11. Everything is contracted out

This guy was a contractor.

The security check was done by a contractor.

I've heard (unconfirmed) that the guard was a contractor.

The gov't has been "streamlined" (pseudotalk for privatized) to reduce costs.

The primary goal of any private contractor is profit...not performance. They will spend the least amount they can on labor costs, then add a nice hefty profit on top. As far as everyone is concerned it's working fine cause everyone has somebody to blame when bad things happen. And bad things always happen.

Welcome to the Reagan gov't. The actual fact is that there is no cost savings...it's just charged to a different account.

[Kingofalldems]

14. Republicans---Privatize, that's the ticket!

[seabeckind]

20. Not just republicans.

This has been going on for 3 decades and there hasn't been any break in the trend.

None.

Wasn't there a big kerfuffle about the way fuel gets to our forces in afghan not so long ago?

How about security at our embassies?

Then there's the electrical work at our bases.

Or the food prep in our "war" zones.

Prisons? Food stamps? Welfare? ADC? In my state I wonder why they need an office building. Could run the state with a bookkeeper.

And, last but not least...education. Particularly, charter schools. What a nice name for privatization.

And not just limited to gov't. The private sector does it also. Boeing is a good example with the "dreamliner". I've always believed that one of the factors leading to GM's problems stemmed from their splitting off parts and other functions. It's a lot easier to fix a quality problem when the guy is sitting across the table and his livelighood depends on you. If all you have is a contract, you got no leverage other than throw him out and eat the loss.

Errata: Just realized I was still displaying my old state (Wash). Moved last year...2000 miles, 200 years.

[formercia]

16. Republicans: Profit over Homeland Security

Look at all the Money we save with Privatization.

[askeptic]

19. The secret clearance probably carried over from his Navy time...

...and there may not have been much investigation since it would only have needed to cover since his discharge. If he was still in inactive guard, his clearance may have still been active.

[Ichingcarpenter]

21. That's Disinformation

WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. law enforcement officials are telling The Associated Press that the Navy contractor identified as the gunman in the mass shootings at the Washington Navy Yard had been suffering a host of serious mental issues, including paranoia and a sleep disorder. He also had been hearing voices in his head, the officials said.

Aaron Alexis, 34, had been treated since August by the Veterans Administration for his mental problems, the officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the criminal investigation in the case was continuing. The Navy had not declared him mentally unfit, which would have rescinded a security clearance that Alexis had from his earlier time in the Navy Reserves.


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_NAVY_YARD_SHOOTING_GUNMAN_MENTAL_HEALTH?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-09-17-08-03-32

[struggle4progress]

35. Contractor Behind Snowden Vetting Did Washington Shooter Check

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014599005

[Marrah_G]

24. Here is the statement from the company

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE EXPERTS STATEMENT ON DC NAVAL YARDS TRAGIC EVEN
T
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL
(September 17, 2013)
–
The Experts would like to express our deepest condolences and sympathies regarding the incident that
occurred at the DC Naval Yards. We are cooperating fully with the FBI and other authorities in relation to the investigation
on the suspect.

At this time, we can confirm that the suspect had been employed by TheExperts for approximately six months over the last year, during whichtime we enlisted a service to perform two background checks and weconfirmed twice through the Department of Defense his Secretgovernment clearance. The latest background check and securityclearance confirmation were in late June of 2013 and revealed no issues other than one minor traffic violation.
Please direct any additional questions to:

Lou Colasuonno
Senior Managing Director
Strategic Communications
F T I Consulting
[phone] direct
[e-mail]

[Skittles]

25. in Texas you can fire a gun up into your neighbor's apartment

and not even be arrested

[Marrah_G]

26. This is all so fucked up

The more information comes out the more angry I am. I would never do it, but I really want to drive over to the base in Newport and ask that officer "WTF is wrong with you??" The momma bear in me is seriously pissed off.

I'm off to bed now. Maybe tomorrow we won't hear that even more people knew this guy was dangerous and did NOTHING.

[Skittles]

27. that neighbor was very frightened of him

and had reason to believe he was targeting her - there seems to have been many opportunities to intervene in the downward spiral of this man but.........

[lanlady]

36. Secret clearance is nothing special.

it's a fairly cursory financial and criminal check. The investigator doesn't even go out and talk to your acquaintances or family.