{"id":2266399,"date":"2024-06-12T19:38:02","date_gmt":"2024-06-12T23:38:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/disgusting-litmus-test-revealed-for-fbi-top-secret-security-clearance\/"},"modified":"2024-06-12T19:44:15","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T23:44:15","slug":"disgusting-litmus-test-revealed-for-fbi-top-secret-security-clearance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/disgusting-litmus-test-revealed-for-fbi-top-secret-security-clearance\/","title":{"rendered":"Revealed: Disturbing Criteria for FBI Top Secret Security Clearance"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdisgusting-litmus-test-revealed-for-fbi-top-secret-security-clearance%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2266399&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-real-threat-to-education-is-not-a-fascist-trump-presidency\/\" title=\"The Actual Danger to Education Isn't a 'Fascist' Trump Administration\">article discusses\u2063 concerns<\/a> \u200babout\u200b how the FBI is supposedly conducting\u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-china-is-stealing-dna-of-u-s-citizens\/\" title=\"Report: China is Stealing DNA of U.S. Citizens\">security clearance<\/a> \u200breviews reminiscent of McCarthy era tactics. The focus is \u200don a veteran federal worker whose clearance was questioned and eventually revoked, with questions targeting political beliefs, like support for former President Donald Trump, opinions on COVID measures (masking and vaccinations), and Second Amendment\u2063 rights. Witnesses described the man as a Trump supporter and active in Second Amendment issues, but not violent. The implications posed by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/holocaust-denier-among-founders-of-principled-never-trump-group\/\" title=\"Holocaust-Denier Among Founders of \u2018Principled\u2019 Never Trump Group\">article suggest<\/a> a troubling trend of using security clearances as a litmus test for political\u2064 allegiance, drawing parallels to historic abuses of power to silence dissent or political opposition. The tone of the article\u200c reflects \u2062deep concern about the perceived erosion of\u2063 rights and decency by governmental institutions, paralleled with ominous remarks about the future of democracy and freedom in the U.S.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/commentary\/\">  Commentary <\/a>   <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/mlandry\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/mlandry\/%20\"><span>Mike Landry<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   June 12, 2024 at 2:47pm <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>\u201cAre you or have you ever been a member of the communist party?\u201d was one of my first thoughts upon hearing of a certain FBI line of questioning.<\/p>\n<p>That question was a common refrain in 1950s congressional hearings in what came to be known as the McCarthy Era.<\/p>\n<p>Except now, the FBI, in determining fitness for a security clearance, is in effect asking: \u201cAre you now or have you ever been a Trump supporter?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s how far we\u2019ve fallen.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, John Solomon, in a <a href=\"https:\/\/justthenews.com\/accountability\/political-ethics\/tuefbi-tried-unmask-employees-trump-support-while-conducting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Just The News<\/a> story about FBI scrutiny of federal employees began his piece with thoughts similar to mine.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe New McCarthyism?\u201d was Solomon\u2019s first sentence.<\/p>\n<p>Inquiry on support for former President Donald Trump was only one part of an FBI checklist that may have deemed a veteran federal worker unworthy of a continued security clearance.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/2024-election-fbi-fudging-violent-crime-data-help-biden-need-know\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">federal agency<\/a> also wanted to know if the employee committed apparent wrongthink regarding COVID and the Second Amendment, according to Solomon\u2019s story.<\/p>\n<p>The security review was based upon witness statements the FBI obtained in reviewing the security clearance.<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Should the FBI be abolished?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Three witness statements were contained in Solomon\u2019s story and are <a href=\"https:\/\/justthenews.com\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-06\/FBiSecCLearanceMemosTrumpQuestions.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">available online<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>According to the witness queries from the FBI\u2019s Security Division, the witnesses and the man being investigated apparently were already holders of security clearances.<\/p>\n<p>The questions were based upon \u201callegation [name redacted] engaged in conduct that calls into question his ability to maintain a Top Secret Security clearance,\u201d according to national security guidelines, the FBI documents said.<\/p>\n<p>The witnesses were asked if the man vocalized support for former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/trump-fbi-focus-radical-left-morons-right-not-problem\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">President Trump<\/a>, objection to COVID shots, or an intent to attend the Jan. 6 demonstration in Washington.<\/p>\n<p>They were also asked if the man attended the January 18, 2021, Richmond Lobby Day regarding gun rights.<\/p>\n<p>The man\u2019s security clearance was revoked not long after the witness reports were made, Solomon wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Reporting back to the FBI, one witness preceded a question about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/fbi-now-targeting-trump-supporters-ahead-2024-election-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Trump support<\/a> with a large hand-drawn exclamation point and then stated that the man \u201cvery significantly supported\u201d Trump.<\/p>\n<p>The witness said the man also listened to talk shows saying Democrats stole the 2020 election.<\/p>\n<p>Another witness described the man as a \u201cdefinite Trump supporter\u201d with \u201cstrong Republican values.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The man opposed masks and COVID vaccination \u2013 \u201cnot vaccinated \u2026 and tried not to wear mask.\u201d Another witness described the man as \u201canti-vaccination\u201d and someone who talked about alternatives to stay healthy.<\/p>\n<p>The man was described by a witness as very active in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tennessee-neighborhood-party-shattered-gunshots-multiple-dead-wounded\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Second Amendment<\/a> issues. Another described the man as a \u201cgun nut.\u201d The man was also described having attended all Second Amendment gatherings.<\/p>\n<p>Although a witness described the man as having \u201cmilitant points of view,\u201d none of the witnesses said the man would engage in violence. \u201cNever implied [he] would do anything aggressive\/physical,\u201d one said.<\/p>\n<p>So the man who lost his security clearance was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/communist-concentration-camp-survivor-die-us-prison-peaceful-pro-life-demonstration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">demonstrated<\/a> to be a Trump supporter, was against COVID shots and masking, and desired to attend the Jan. 6 demonstrations but was discouraged and apparently dissuaded from attending.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not clear what other questions may have been posed to the man or to those who knew him.<\/p>\n<p>But the direction of the questioning \u2014 and the soon-to-follow revocation of a security clearance \u2014 imply application of a specific litmus test by the FBI regarding beliefs and constitutionally protected actions by a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">federal employee<\/a> that appear to be frowned on by the agency.<\/p>\n<p>Again, how far <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/sick-fbi-torture-technique-exposed-5-year-swat-vet-ex-fbi-operator-defending-j6ers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">we\u2019ve fallen<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It brings to mind another phrase from the McCarthy Era, the statement by lawyer Joseph Welch at the 1954 televised Army-McCarthy hearings, a statement then directed at Sen. Joseph McCarthy after the Wisconsin Democrat-turned-Republican accused an aide of young Welch of being a communist.<\/p>\n<p>Without us discussing the rights or wrongs of things McCarthy did in those long ago days, Welch\u2019s statement was one that should be directed at the FBI\u2019s long cherished former reputation.<\/p>\n<p>That <a href=\"https:\/\/www.senate.gov\/about\/powers-procedures\/investigations\/mccarthy-hearings\/have-you-no-sense-of-decency.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">statement<\/a>, for the security clearance issue and for many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/new-video-j6-wife-catches-fbi-agents-covering-son-4-laser-sights-home-invasion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">other things<\/a> \u2013\u201cHave you no sense of decency?\u201d<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><b><i>A Note from Our Deputy Managing Editor:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>I heard a chilling comment the other day: \u201cWe don\u2019t even know if an election will be held in 2024.\u201d <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>That wasn\u2019t said by a conspiracy theorist or a doomsday prophet. No, former U.S. national security advisor Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn said that to the founder of The Western Journal, Floyd Brown.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Gen. Flynn\u2019s warning means that the 2024 election is the most important election for every single living American. If we lose this one to the wealthy elites who hate us, hate God, and hate what America stands for, we can only assume that 248 years of American history and the values we hold dear to our hearts may soon vanish.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The end game is here, and as Benjamin Franklin said, \u201cWe must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>All of this means that <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>without you<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>, it\u2019s over. We have the platform, the journalists, and the experience to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-rises-as-he-promises-hes-only-begun-to-fight-put-on-full-armor-of-god-to-fight-the-left\/\" title=\"DeSantis Rises As He Promises He\u2019s \u2018Only Begun To Fight\u2019: \u2018Put On Full Armor Of God\u2019 To Fight The Left\">fight back hard<\/a>, but Big Tech is strangling us through advertising blacklists, shadow bans, and algorithms. Did you know that we\u2019ve been blacklisted by 90% of advertisers? Without direct support from you, our readers, we can\u2019t continue the fight.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Can we count on <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>your support<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>? It may not seem like much, but a <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Western Journal Membership<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  can make all the difference in the world because when you support us directly, you cut Big Tech out of the picture. They lose control. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>A monthly Western Journal Membership costs less than one coffee and breakfast sandwich each month, and it gets you access to ALL of our content \u2014 news, commentary, and premium articles. You\u2019ll experience a radically reduced number of ads, and most importantly you will be vitally supporting the fight for America\u2019s soul in 2024.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We are literally counting on you because without our members, The Western Journal would cease to exist. Will you <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>join us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  in the fight? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Sincerely,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Josh Manning<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Deputy Managing Editor<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The Western Journal<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-45512\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/mlandry\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-45512\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-45512\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-45512\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-45512\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Mike Landry, PhD, is a retired business professor. He has been a journalist, broadcaster and church pastor. He writes from Northwest Arkansas on current events and business history.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>  Mike Landry, PhD, is a retired business professor. He has been a journalist, broadcaster and church pastor. He writes from Northwest Arkansas on current events and business history. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Commentary by Mike Landry, June 12, 2024, at 2:47 pm: Hearing an FBI question recently reminded me of the infamous 1950s congressional query, &#8220;Are you or have you ever been a member of the communist party?&#8221; This line epitomized the era&#8217;s intense scrutiny under what became known as the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2018,"featured_media":2266400,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/FBI-Logo.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2266399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/FBI-Logo.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2266399","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2018"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2266399"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2266399\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2266400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2266399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2266399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2266399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}