Natalie Harp Worked 1 Year Without Clearance, Drawing Scrutiny Over OAN Ties
Updated
Updated · Mother Jones · Aug 22
Natalie Harp Worked 1 Year Without Clearance, Drawing Scrutiny Over OAN Ties
3 articles · Updated · Mother Jones · Aug 22
Summary
MSNOW reported Natalie Harp repeatedly declined to seek a White House security clearance for more than a year while working in close proximity to President Donald Trump, despite routine vetting for aides with access to sensitive information.
That delay has intensified security concerns because Harp was constantly around Trump, helped shape the information reaching him, and only later obtained clearance after Trump intervened, according to earlier reports.
OAN, Harp’s employer before joining Trump’s 2022 campaign, has been identified in past reporting and U.S. intelligence findings as a channel for pro-Russia and anti-Biden disinformation, adding another layer to scrutiny of her role.
The episode broadens criticism of Trump’s handling of security protocols, alongside earlier controversies over classified documents, Signal-related lapses, and foreign influence concerns tied to Qatar’s gifted 747-8.