Security Clearance Denial

Fort Liberty Soldier Indicted for Lying on SF-86 About Involvement in Extremist Group

On August 14, 2024, the Department of Justice charged a Fort Liberty soldier, Kai Liam Nix, with making false statements on his Questionnaire for National Security Positions (SF-86) and trafficking in unlawful arms. According to the indictment, Nix lied on the SF-86 by answering “No” to the question in Section 29 – Association Record that asks “Have you EVER been a member of an organization that advocates or practices commission of acts of force or violence to discourage others from exercising their rights under the U.S. Constitution or any state of the United States with the specific intent to further such action.”

During a joint investigation by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Army CID who were looking into the activities of a white extremist group called the Patriot Front, it was discovered Nix was an active member of the group who recruited others into using Telegram, an online encrypted service account. His activities in the group tracked back to a time period prior to him filling out the SF-86 in August 2022. They also discovered Nix had illegally sold two stolen firearms.

It is assumed he initially passed his background investigation and obtained a security clearance at some point after he submitted his SF-86 and got stationed at Fort Liberty as an infantryman. An Army spokesman at Fort Liberty indicated Nix was administratively discharged from the service the day after he was arrested and indicted. Obviously, his clearance was immediately suspended and since he no longer has the need for one and has no recourse to appeal. Of course, it does not really matter in his case since he may be incarcerated for a while.

Discussion

  1. why did he need a security clearance for infantry?

  2. Everyone who joins the military is vetted at a minimum at the Secret clearance level.