Pulitzer prize-winning security expert denied White House clearance

 SAN FRANCISCO - A Pulitzer prize-winning computer security expert recently hired by the Chief Technology Officer of the United States, Megan Smith, has been denied a security clearance and is heading to the West coast.

Ashkan Soltani was previously the chief technologist at the Federal Trade Commission. He was hired by the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy as a senior adviser to Smith in December.
On Friday he posted to Twitter that he was disappointed to announce his departure as he had been notified last week that he would not receive the security clearance necessary to continue working at the White House.
"Bittersweet end to my stint in government," he tweeted.