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Ex-CIA Officer and Candidate Says PAC Got Her Security-Clearance Application

Abigail Spanberger says she’s not aware of any “legal way” the PAC could have obtained her full federal application.

A former CIA officer now running for Congress as a Democrat has accused a Republican super PAC of “improperly obtaining her entire federal security clearance application” and “using it for political purposes.” The New York Times reports that Abigail Spanberger, who is challenging Rep. David Brat (R-VA), sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Congressional Leadership Fund to “destroy all copies of the form and agree to not use the information in any fashion.” Spanberger alleges the PAC had shared its content with “at least one news outlet.” The PAC responded that it had obtained her application through a Freedom of Information Act request, and released a part of the form—only redacting Spanberger’s personal information. “I am not aware of any legal way that CLF could have this document,” she said. Spanberger also told the Times she suspected the PAC wanted to politically exploit the fact that she taught at a “private Islamic school funded by Saudi Arabia” for a short time. “I am proud of my background and my service, and not ashamed of the information I submitted,” she said. “I have nothing to hide in my background. But, as any American in a similar situation would be, I am concerned about my privacy and security.”