Subject: security clearance info
From: "Chris Lu" <[email-masked]>
To: "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]'>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]'>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]'>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]'>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]'>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]'>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]'>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]'>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]'>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]'>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]'>, "[email-masked]" <'david.
Cc: "Joani Walsh" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:48:43 -0500

Earlier today, Joani Walsh on our transition team sent you an email requesting information in order for you to obtain a security clearance.  Several of you understandably have asked for more details about the security clearance process prior to submitting your personal information.  That is completely understandable, and I apologize for not giving you more context for how this will work.  

Pursuant to the Intelligence Reform Act of 2004, DOJ and FBI are providing interim security clearances for approximately 100 members of our transition team.  These clearances are intended for people who may have a need for classified information shortly after Election Day.  DOJ and FBI are providing these clearances for both the Obama and McCain transition teams, but only the winning campaign's clearances will be activated.  

The process has multiple steps:

1) We will first submit a list of names, dates of births, and Social Security numbers.  The FBI will check these names to see who has a current clearance or who has had clearances in the recent past.

a) If you already have clearance, you likely will not have to complete any additional paperwork.

b) If you've had a clearance in the recent past, you will have to provide information to update your clearance.

c) If you've never had a clearance, you would have to fill out more extensive paperwork

2) The transition will have a designated security officer who will notify you as to what paperwork you need to complete, and will help walk you through the process.

3) You will return your paperwork to the security officer, who will review the forms for completeness and then submit them to the FBI.  We expect that interim clearances will be granted approximately 10 days after all forms are submitted.

4) The interim clearance would allow you to receive briefings or enter an agency immediately after Election Day.  But the interim status isn't indefinite.  At some point, you will have to complete more extensive paperwork for a full background investigation.  That process will be explained after Election Day.

Let me know if you have any questions.  If you'd rather submit your personal information over the phone (instead of by email), you can call Joani Walsh at 202-543-8503

--Chris

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Chris Lu
[email-masked]
312-505-4864 (cell)