Failed polygraph played role in the loss of Trump ally Kurt Olsen’s security clearance, sources say

Kurt Olsen, a Justice Department lawyer and a vocal supporter of Trump's false claims about the 2020 election being stolen, lost his security clearance from the DOJ after failing a polygraph test, according to two sources familiar with the matter. While the failure of the polygraph test was a factor in the decision to revoke his clearance, the sources did not confirm if other reasons were also involved. Reuters was the first to report on this development.

Olsen denied Reuters' claim that his clearance had been revoked, stating that he holds an active security clearance from another agency. He also mentioned that he had clearance during his time as a Navy SEAL in the mid-to-late 1980s. Olsen recently stepped aside from a criminal investigation involving prominent opponents of President Donald Trump, which was ongoing at the time of his clearance loss.

Reuters could not independently verify if Olsen held multiple security clearances or if any remain active. The nature of the questions posed during the polygraph test and the reasons behind his failure were not disclosed. The loss of Olsen's clearance at the Justice Department complicated his ability to continue working on the Florida-based investigation, which aims to build a case against law enforcement and intelligence officials who allegedly violated Trump's constitutional rights during his 2016 campaign and beyond.

Despite Olsen's resignation from the investigation, the episode highlights the ongoing turmoil surrounding the Florida case and Olsen's time in the US government. In September, the investigation's overseer, Joseph diGenova, resigned amid a dispute with Justice Department leadership over investigative strategy and resources. The New York Times had previously reported about Olsen's clearance issues, but without linking it to the recent polygraph test.

Olsen informed senior officials in the Miami-based US Attorney's Office on September 28 that he wished to withdraw from the investigation. He told Reuters that his decision was unrelated to his security clearance, but declined to provide further details about his reasons for leaving the probe. The investigation has yet to yield any charges, and attorneys for those under investigation argue that there is no evidence supporting a conspiracy against Trump.

Prosecutors have informed former CIA director John Brennan, a target of the probe, about proceedings, while Brennan denies any wrongdoing.