On 60 Minutes, Scott Pelley points out what three notorious Americans – NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, convicted spy Chelsea Manning, and mass murderer Aaron Alexis – had in common. Pelley interviews former Deputy Secretary of Defense, John Hamre, who says all three young men had US secret-level security clearance which Hamre believes is “very obsolete.” Hamre explains to Pelley that applicants for the clearance can lie and unfortunately not get caught until it’s too late.
Aaron Alexis joined the Navy in 2007. He received secret-level security clearance in 2008 that was valid for ten years, even though he lied about his 2004 felony arrest for letting the air out of someone’s tire with a gun in a “black-out fueled by anger.” According to a Navy official, Alexis was cited on at least eight occasions for misconduct. And just before the mass shooting, Alexis received treatment at a Veterans Affairs hospital after claiming he was hearing voices and having problems sleeping. In 2013, Alexis fatally shot 12 coworkers and wounded 14 others at the headquarters of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVESA) located at the Washington Navy Year. 34-year-old Alexis was killed by police one hour later. Pelley’s report will air on 60 Minutes on November 8 at 7:30pm on CBS.
