Posted on 07/19/2004 5:07:42 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
AP: Clinton Adviser Probed in Terror Memos
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By JOHN SOLOMON
WASHINGTON - President Clinton (news - web sites)'s national security adviser, Sandy Berger, is the focus of a criminal investigation after admitting he removed highly classified terrorism documents from a secure reading room during preparations for the Sept. 11 commission hearings, The Associated Press has learned.
Berger's home and office were searched earlier this year by FBI (news - web sites) agents armed with warrants. Some drafts of a sensitive after-action report on the Clinton administration's handling of al-Qaida terror threats during the December 1999 millennium celebration are still missing.
Berger and his lawyer said Monday night he knowingly removed handwritten notes he had taken from classified anti-terror documents he reviewed at the National Archives by sticking them in his jacket and pants. He also inadvertently took copies of actual classified documents in a leather portfolio, they said.
"I deeply regret the sloppiness involved, but I had no intention of withholding documents from the commission, and to the contrary, to my knowledge, every document requested by the commission from the Clinton administration was produced," Berger said in a statement to the AP.
Berger served as Clinton's national security adviser for all of the president's second term and most recently has been informally advising Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites). Clinton asked Berger last year to review and select the administration documents that would be turned over to the commission.
The FBI searched Berger's home and office with warrants earlier this year after employees of the National Archives told agents they believed they witnessed Berger put documents into his clothing while reviewing sensitive Clinton administration papers, officials said.
When asked, Berger said he returned some of the classified documents, which he found in his office, and all of the handwritten notes he had taken from the secure room, but said he could not locate two or three copies of the highly classified millennium terror report.
(Excerpt) Read more at story.news.yahoo.com ...
I'm sure there's plenty of room because the Vietnam weenie has no b****.
I'm not ready to barf yet. Let's see what happens. If this thing turns out to be as bad as it sounds, and people start trying to excuse it, or downplaying it, then I'll barf. I want to see how this pans out first.
Things going into the RAT Convention could get very interesting over this.
As you said, just coincidentally the documents most damning to the Clinton admin. are those missing. How did he think he'd get away with it?
There's no way the National Security advisor didn't understand that he was taking originals. He said he thought they were copies which is utter BS.
Really? Maybe there's some wee shred of hope for them afterall.
I don't blame him. He could probably get big bucks for those documents on EBAY.
I missed that part - that there are copies available of the missing docs - and was wondering if there was a limit to the number of copies made of highly classified documents.
If Berger isn't arrested I will be astounded.
Don't count on it. This may be part of the "October Surprise."
It's even worse than that. He knowingly smuggled documents out of the room in his pants...inadvertantly.
All I know is if it were the republicans who had done this, the presstitutes would be shouting it from the rooftops. This would finally get abu graib off the front pages.
Sloppiness? SLOPPINESS?!!!! Sloppiness is when you drop them on the floor, or mix them with other papers. When you do the following, it is not sloppiness, it's theft:
Berger...said Monday night he knowingly removed handwritten notes he had taken from classified anti-terror documents he reviewed at the National Archives by sticking them in his jacket and pants. He also inadvertently took copies of actual classified documents in a leather portfolio... Inadvertently, when he's busy stuffing notes in his pockets? Hah!
Prepare to be astounded...unfortunately.
I'm wondering who learned from who. Berger from Kerry or vice versa. Kerry's been known to destroy documents himself. I believe he was accused of this when he was working on the POW/MIA issue.
bttt
-PJ
I missed this. What did Kerry do?
Is there still a Chris Matthews? Is there still a Chris Matthews show? Is there still an MSNBC? The only news I get about them is what I read here on FR posts.
Her Most Royal Highness:"Time to contol the peons in the FBI and Justice Dept to get Sandy Berger off.
After all, Sandy was just stealing incriminating papers for us, again.
Go, Little one, fetch me our stolen FBI files.
Ooops, I mean our (stolen) FBI 'badges of honor'""
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