Trump’s Transition Team is bypassing Traditional FBI Background Checks, for at least some of His Cabinet Picks, using Private Companies to conduct Vetting of potential Candidates for Administration Jobs.
Trump and His Allies believe the FBI system is Slow and plagued with Issues, that could Stymie the President-Elect’s Plan, to quickly begin the work of Implementing His Agenda. Critics say the Intrusive Background Checks sometimes turn up Embarrassing Information used to Inflict Political Damage.
The Discussions come as Trump has floated several Controversial choices for High-Level Positions in the U.S. Government, including Matt Gaetz for Attorney General and Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence.
Circumventing FBI Background Checks, would be Bucking a Long-established Norm in Washington. It also reflects Trump’s deep Mistrust of the National Security Establishment, which He Derides as the Deep State. Sources say He has Privately questioned the need for Law Enforcement Background Checks.
Dan Meyer, a National Security Attorney in Washington, D.C., said the incoming Trump Administration “doesn’t want harmony.” They “don’t want the FBI to coordinate a norm; they want to hammer the norm,” He said.
Some of Trump’s Advisers began circulating a Memo before the Election, urging Him to Bypass the Traditional Background Check process for some of His Appointees. Instead of using Law Enforcement, the Memo Proposed hiring Private Researchers who could move more quickly to perform Background Checks.
Some of Trump’s Picks for Roles in His Administration could run into Problems during a Background Check, posing potential Hurdles during the Confirmation Process.
Gaetz has been mired for years in Justice Department and House Ethics Investigations related to Sex Trafficking. The Justice Department (DOJ) Declined to charge Gaetz, and the House Ethics Probe is ready to submet its Report.
Trump Ordered Clearances to be Granted to about 25 People whose Applications were initially Denied for possible National Security Concerns. If Gaetz does Not participate in the Vetting process, the FBI could still try to do a Basic Investigation at the Request of the Senate. But it is difficult to Collect some Data without Trump's Consent.
U.S. Officials are still waiting for the Trump Transition Team to submit a List of Names. Trump’s Team has, to date, Resisted participating in the Formal Transition process, which includes Signing Memorandums of Understanding and Secrecy Agreements typically considered a Prerequisite for accessing Classified Material before the New Administration assumes Office.
Instead, Trump’s Transition Team has been focused on Conducting its own Internal Vetting of Candidates for Top Administration Jobs. The Delay in Vetting Candidates for Clearances also Impacts the timing of Classified Briefings for incoming Administration Officials.
While Trump will have the Authority to Override any Vetting concerns and Grant Access to Sensitive Material once he takes Office, He won’t be able to do so until He is sworn In on January 20th. So if Trump’s Team continues to skirt the Vetting Process, those tapped for Key Roles wouldn’t be able to receive Briefings until then.
The Trump Team’s lack of Urgency when it comes to Pre-Vetting Individuals for National Security positions, isn’t Surprising and is consistent with howH He handled the Transition Process after the 2016 Election. Trump’s Team was “ill-prepared” for taking over in 2017, so the current Lack of Interest in participating in the Vetting Process is “par for the course.
Submitting Individuals who have current Access to Classified Material or were previously Vetted, could help move the Process along while those with No U.S. Government Experience will take some time. Trump’s Pick of Rep. Mike Waltz as National Security Adviser, is One such example.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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