Anime Porn Addiction Sinks Clearance Eligibility

I recently ran across a most unusual Defense Office of Hearing and Appeals (DOHA) case where the applicant previously had his clearance revoked in 2020 due to security concerns under sexual behavior and psychological conditions. He reapplied for a clearance in 2023 with his current company and the DoD issued him a Statement of Reasons (SOR) to which he responded and requested a personal appearance at the DOHA hearing. Here are the highlights of the case.

The applicant admitted to viewing animated pornography for 20 years, some of which depicted minors and scenes that were sexually violent in nature. He also admitted to masturbating to these images, sometimes in public while in a parking lot sitting in his car. He even did this in bathroom stalls while at work, which was a factor in the reasons his clearance was previously revoked. In 2023, he underwent a psychological evaluation and was diagnosed as meeting the criteria for “Other Specified Paraphilic Disorder, Chronic Pornography Use”. In his appeal hearing, he tried to downplay his conduct / behavior and stated he has confessed all to his wife. She has been helping him with his addiction.

The appeals judge noted that the attending psychologist gave an unfavorable prognosis, and his long history of sexual behavior makes him vulnerable to blackmail. Although the applicant stated he has stopped the behavior as of four years ago, based on his most recent evaluation, his psychological condition is not under control. You can read the case summary here.