No one forced Billy to lie. You know that, if you try to get security clearances, if you have something that you can be blackmailed with, a lot of debt, extrmarital affairs, etc. It hurts your chances? May even destroy your chance?
What if you were the person who had access ti the highest levels and subject to black mail? Someone whose main goal is to get and keep power and has shown not to give a **** about what it cost.