(CNN) Former White House personnel security director Carl Kline took responsibility for a security clearance process criticized for overruling multiple recommended denials for senior government officials, according to members of Congress who privately interviewed Kline on Wednesday. Tricia Newbold, whom Democrats describe as a whistleblower , has accused Kline of approving security clearances for White House officials despite recommended denials, including for the President's son-in-law and senior White House adviser Jared Kushner. In 2018, Trump reportedly directed his then-chief of staff John Kelly to give Kushner a top-secret security clearance. "He told us that he made every decision about security clearances," said Rep. Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio. It wasn't the White House chief of staff."

Source: CNN May 01, 2019 23:48 UTC