He didn’t just hold a regular clearance....cyber geek in a intel organization...held a TS, which means a complete review of background. So the cult didn’t come up on their radar. He left the cult in 2019...enlisted in 2020.
I sat and thought about the normal questions (I’ve been through the clearance stuff on several occasions). I don’t recall a single question on religious affiliation or asking if I were a cult member. They were always hyper about your debt, financial situation, personal relationships, memberships....not religion.
“...not religion.”
I was interviewed for the clearance of a fellow office worker. The worker was a very competent software guy. But he was a member of a religious cult that held extreme views on so many subjects that none of us would talk to this guy unless we had to. The cult made ordinary conspiracy theorists seem sane. I did warn the interviewer about the cult. I was ignored and the coworker got the clearance. I don’t know if anything bad ever transpired but I felt the possibility was much higher with him than with any other random software guy.
They do ask that question in the process; anti government associations. He lied or some clown did not flag it due to ideological reasons.