diff --git a/demos/epistemic_truth_state/README.md b/demos/epistemic_truth_state/README.md
index 33bffdfa..69700e21 100644
--- a/demos/epistemic_truth_state/README.md
+++ b/demos/epistemic_truth_state/README.md
@@ -41,9 +41,10 @@ state is typed
 
 * It is not the runtime epistemic-state tagger; it is a local demo over fixed
   fixtures.
-* It does not run the safety/ethics verdict pass, so `normative_clearance` here
-  reflects only whether CORE positively established the claim (`cleared`) versus
-  did not assess it (`unassessable`).  It is **not** a safety guarantee.
+* It assigns epistemic truth-state only.  It runs **no** normative / safety /
+  ethics clearance pass, so `normative_clearance` is `unassessable` on every
+  non-invalid output — including `verified`.  This demo never positively clears
+  a claim and makes no safety guarantee.
 * It does not call a network, a model API, a subprocess, or any side-effecting
   tool.  It evaluates JSON and returns JSON.
 * It does not claim broader epistemic coverage than the small local envelope and
@@ -76,7 +77,7 @@ with no proposer-held authority and no execution path.
 ## The six scenarios
 
 * `verified-supported-claim` — two independent matching records → `verified`,
-  `cleared`, `verified_by_matching_evidence`.
+  `verified_by_matching_evidence` (clearance `unassessable`).
 * `evidenced-but-not-verified-claim` — one supporting record → `evidenced`,
   `evidence_present_but_not_verifying`.
 * `inferred-from-bounded-evidence` — claim follows from resolved premises →
@@ -99,9 +100,9 @@ with no proposer-held authority and no execution path.
 * Simulated: the proposer side is static fixture data standing in for a
   model-style proposer; the evidence bundle is hand-authored, not retrieved from
   the live vault.
-* Coarse: `normative_clearance` is a two-state stand-in (`cleared` only for a
-  verified claim, else `unassessable`) because this demo runs no safety/ethics
-  verdict pass.
+* Honest non-claim: `normative_clearance` is `unassessable` on every
+  non-invalid output, including `verified`, because this demo runs no
+  safety/ethics verdict pass and therefore has no basis to clear anything.
 * Not claimed: runtime integration, serving integration, real evidence
   retrieval, a safety guarantee, or any coverage beyond this local envelope.
 
diff --git a/demos/epistemic_truth_state/authority.py b/demos/epistemic_truth_state/authority.py
index 33ef20ad..4ab5c724 100644
--- a/demos/epistemic_truth_state/authority.py
+++ b/demos/epistemic_truth_state/authority.py
@@ -351,11 +351,14 @@ def assign_epistemic_state(payload: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
         )
 
     # Verified: two or more independent records that match subject and predicate.
+    # Clearance stays UNASSESSABLE even here: this demo assigns epistemic
+    # truth-state only and runs no normative/safety/ethics clearance pass, so it
+    # has no basis to positively clear anything.
     if len(independent) >= 2:
         return _assigned(
             payload,
             state=EpistemicState.VERIFIED,
-            clearance=NormativeClearance.CLEARED,
+            clearance=NormativeClearance.UNASSESSABLE,
             decision_reason="verified_by_matching_evidence",
             evidence_ledger=sorted(record["evidence_id"] for record in independent),
             trace_summary=trace_summary,
diff --git a/demos/epistemic_truth_state/expected/verified-supported-claim.json b/demos/epistemic_truth_state/expected/verified-supported-claim.json
index a73e2c5d..2279ab4b 100644
--- a/demos/epistemic_truth_state/expected/verified-supported-claim.json
+++ b/demos/epistemic_truth_state/expected/verified-supported-claim.json
@@ -11,12 +11,12 @@
     "ev-a1-replay",
     "ev-a1-trace"
   ],
-  "normative_clearance": "cleared",
+  "normative_clearance": "unassessable",
   "request_id": "demo-eps-a1",
   "scenario_id": "verified-supported-claim",
   "status": "assigned",
   "tool": "core.epistemic_truth_state.review",
-  "trace_hash": "4307277a0f8d8276f29574d934228cc6c74c60fd43c46dba84bffd22d6cdb181",
+  "trace_hash": "1341c27c5906ae528ecc1f0cc4ebd3f71db68f138f6d8365fe0e93dd2d7f7097",
   "trace_summary": {
     "authority_evaluated": true,
     "claim_fingerprint": "cef9198360d02ce3133c1095e776ae86a714fd1c9718aa3576616f935eccdf98",
diff --git a/tests/test_epistemic_truth_state_demo.py b/tests/test_epistemic_truth_state_demo.py
index 3af4ef8b..101770a7 100644
--- a/tests/test_epistemic_truth_state_demo.py
+++ b/tests/test_epistemic_truth_state_demo.py
@@ -98,7 +98,9 @@ def test_uses_canonical_epistemic_state_enum():
 def test_verified_requires_matching_evidence():
     response = _run("verified-supported-claim")
     assert response["assigned_state"] == "verified"
-    assert response["normative_clearance"] == "cleared"
+    # This demo runs no normative/safety/ethics clearance pass, so even a
+    # verified claim stays UNASSESSABLE rather than positively cleared.
+    assert response["normative_clearance"] == "unassessable"
     assert response["evidence_ledger"] == ["ev-a1-replay", "ev-a1-trace"]
 
     # Drop one independent record: a single supporting record cannot verify.
@@ -117,6 +119,17 @@ def test_verified_requires_matching_evidence():
     assert none_match["decision_reason"] == "insufficient_evidence"
 
 
+def test_clearance_is_unassessable_for_all_non_invalid_outputs():
+    # The demo assigns epistemic truth-state only; it runs no normative/safety/
+    # ethics clearance pass, so it must never positively clear anything.
+    for name in SCENARIOS:
+        response = _run(name)
+        if response["status"] == "invalid":
+            assert response["normative_clearance"] is None, name
+        else:
+            assert response["normative_clearance"] == "unassessable", name
+
+
 def test_evidenced_state_for_single_support():
     response = _run("evidenced-but-not-verified-claim")
     assert response["status"] == "assigned"