AP: Clinton Adviser Probed in Terror Memos [Sandy Berger is the focus of a criminal investigation]

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[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.

[Republican Red]

I was wondering the same thing. Does the National Archives have cameras in their viewing rooms. I would think they did. If so, Berger is in a boatload of trouble.

It's like Winona RIder saying she inadvertantly took merchandise from one department to another - she didn's shoploift. WHen the video came out of her stuffing clothes in her bag, GUILTY.

If there is one, show me a the video

[A Citizen Reporter]

Top of the hour CBS radio news reports that Hastert has made a statement about the seriousness of stealing national security docs. They use an actual recording of Dascle's voice, saying that the timing of the "leak" is very suspect.

Timing of the leak seems to be the only RAT spin for the day. Meanwhile is John effin still on vacation?

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Should Sandy Berger face charges for taking classified documents?

83.02% Yes
16.98% No

Court tv poll

[Eva]

I don't know if there is video, but the Berglar was observed by a guard and subsequently set up with a sting.

[Che Chihuahua]

Unfortunately for her, Martha Stewart was a strong supporter of Hitlery Clinton. It is my theory that somehow Stewart was handed over to the US Attorney to protect Terry McAuliffe. McAuliffe, who helped the Clintons purchase their house in New York, is Clinton's handpicked man running the DNC. McAuliffe sold his stock in Global Crossing two weeks before it tanked and made $17 million on the sale. So either he had inside information or he's awfully lucky.

I don't usually subscribe to conspiracy theories, but I can't understand how McAuliffe has escaped any investigation into such a large transaction that doesn't pass any smell test. I am also amazed that so many people, like Berger and Hubbell, are willing to fall on their swords for the Clintons. I am also amazed at the many people who end up as patsies of the Clinton machine. In Martha Stewart's case I think she's the perfect Clinton patsy. She's widely disliked, rich, and unaware.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for the encouragements and for your question!:

Hey, I've got it stuck in my head that Berger testified for the Starr report, but can't find anything on it. Do you recall that?

I do not recall that he testified, but I seriously doubt it because Clinton used executive privilege to keep him from testifying even before the Senate Intelligence Committee wrt espionage:

Fox News 6/9/99 Reuters "...The White House Wednesday rejected Republican calls for National Security Adviser Sandy Berger to testify to Congress on the investigation into allegations China stole U.S. nuclear weapons secrets. "As far as I know, there are no plans now for any formal testimony,'' White House spokesman Joe Lockhart told reporters. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, a Republican of Alabama, has said he intends to ask Berger to testify on his awareness of the investigation and what he told Clinton about it. Tuesday, Shelby said, "I believe it's important for Mr. Berger to come before the intelligence committee. I hope he will not assert executive privilege because these questions are too important...I would be really disappointed if he refused.''...But he cited issues of executive privilege in saying cabinet-agency executives should testify rather than members of Clinton's executive staff such as Berger. "There is a traditional and constitutional argument that many administrations have taken about White House staff testifying versus other members of the administration that are confirmable (by the Senate),'' Lockhart said. ...."

And that was something with which he was personally involved!

The Washington Times 6/20/99 James Inhofe "...The breach of the design of the W-88 miniaturized nuclear warhead--which happened in the 1980s and was discovered in 1995--is enormously significant to America's national security. According to Paul Redmond, the CIA's former counterintelligence chief who caught Soviet spy Aldrich Ames, it is "far more damaging to the national security than Aldrich Ames," and "as bad as the Rosenbergs." The Rosenbergs were executed for compromising atomic bomb secrets to the Soviets. The idea Sandy Berger of the White House National Security Council--who was fully briefed about the W-88 technology breach in April 1996--did not immediately communicate this information to the president is preposterous. Mr. Berger now claims he did not tell the president until early 1998, or perhaps July 1997, depending on which of his two stories you want to believe. I don't believe either one because neither makes sense. Mr. Berger is a political operative, a longtime Clinton friend and confidant--not to mention, a pretty smart guy. He attended all the major 1996 Clinton campaign strategy meetings. When he learned China had stolen the W-88--the crown jewel of the U.S. nuclear arsenal--is it plausible he did not immediately tell the president ? No, not unless you want to assume a level of incompetence at the White House that even this administration's harshest critics do not believe for a minute...."

[GOPrincess]

"Gergen tells N-B-C's "Today" show the incident is "more innocent than it looks." "

Oh, sure, innocent people always hide documents in their socks.

[windchime]

"I don't think they have all the facts yet, just Berger's version."

Papers inadvertently jumped into Berger's underpants...and they say this with a straight face!

[AuntB]

I was reading those excerpts last night...until 2 am...oh, my! Anyway, forgetfulness seems to be Berger's strong suit. Forgets to tell Clinton for 18 mos. that secrets have been stolen from Los Alamos, forgets that he stuffs documents in his pants......I'm sure there's more!!

The media seems concentrated on the "timing" of this story.....they'll find a way to blame Pres. Bush. When Bush took office I kept saying NO ONE deserves the mess Clinton left him. I hope I live long enough to see the Clinton's crew get the blame they deserve....sigh....

[Eroteme]

Timing of the leak seems to be the only RAT spin for the day.

Their spin often takes the form of accusing others of what they themselves are guilty of.

I suspect the democrats knew this would come out eventually, and feared its impact would be far more damaging in the fall right before the election. So they pull a clinton favorite tactic, leaking it themselves in July, in hopes it will burn itself out well in advance of the election and counting on the American public's short attention span--all the while hopping up and down and squealing about republican timing.

[Grandma Pam]

I just can't comprehend what on earth the Clintons have on Sandy Berger to make him pull a stunt like this. What kind of database do these evil creatures keep? It happens over and over again--people all around them fall on their swords and the Toon and the Beast just keep on rolling along. Amazing.

[Timeout]

Fish: You said you think the Justice Dept. set up a sting.

I've read that the Archives notified Berger on Oct. 2 that there was a problem. The Archives inspector general then began investigating and didn't turn it over to the FBI until January. So any "sting" was set up by the archives.

THEO: Amazing how fast this story is developing.

Now we know the disappeared "drafts" were written by Richard Clarke at Berger's behest. I bet Clarke's involved in this. He's developed almost an almost bigger interest in rearranging history than the Toons.

John King's story reveals a new spin angle: "Hey! What does it matter is he took a few lousy drafts...after all, the commission has the FINAL MEMO".

From my recollection of all the lawyers on TV during the Toon administration, it's not a good sign for Berger that he hasn't been interviewed.

[cyncooper]

Now we know the disappeared "drafts" were written by Richard Clarke at Berger's behest. I bet Clarke's involved in this.

Just heard Rush state this and went right to the end of this thread and sure enough, see you guys are on top of it. Why aren't we surprised?

[nfldgirl]

If it becomes a front page story there will be pressure on him to distance himself or take aleave from campaign." But not to worry, this "doesn't reflect on Sen. Kerry."

It should have ALREADY BEEN FRONT PAGE NEWS! What a baffoon! Doesn't reflect on Sen. Kerry?!!! WHAT!!!! And Gergen calls Berger an "honorable man?!!!" How laughable!!!! IS THERE NOT EVEN ONE HONEST, DECENT MEMBER OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IN THIS ENTIRE COUNTRY? ... someone who could come forth and just be honest, truthful, righteous...a LOVER of AMERICA and all that is AMERICA and all it stands for to be called AMERICAN?! Truly sad to say...I don't think so...not at all...not EVEN one.... :-(

[kabar]

You can be pretty sure there is a video otherwise Burglar would have used the Clinton defense: Deny, Deny, Deny!!! His admission of guilt means that he was caught redhanded on videotape.

[Alamo-Girl]

Indeed. Timing will become an issue, but it may work to our benefit as well, i.e. when did the Kerry campaign first learn of this and how long did they keep Berger as advisor afterwards? Ditto for Wilson...

Of course, only FoxNews and Rush et al will pursue it ... but it would make for a great advertisement.

[windchime]

"If we can't get our own party reps to say this is an outrage....ohhh, this just really ticks me off."

I know how you feel. It's like watching the mother with the awful, bratty, fit-throwing kid who says very softly.....'now honey'.

Lott took the same stance this morning. Bond did take the opportunity to say that Kerry needed to indicate national security is an issue he takes seriously since Berger is an advisor.

[Timeout]

When Bush took office I kept saying NO ONE deserves the mess Clinton left him.

I was saying THANK GOD Bush will be in there to preserve evidence from the Toon administration. If it had been Gore, all this would've disappeared a long time ago.

________________________________________________

Media note:

I tuned to CNN a while ago and Wolf was interviewiing Susan Page, who wrote the Berger article for USA Today. I only caught the tail end of it.

Wolf was saying to her, "Well, I bet it's going to get a lot more prominent play in those other papers' front pages tomorrow." Susan said yes, she agreed.

Wolf then remarked that she'd covered Berger for a long time. Did this sound like the Berger she knows? Page: "No. I've always known him to be straight forward in his dealings with me. This isn't like him at all." [Wish I knew what they'd been talking about...]

[nfldgirl]

Should Sandy Berger face charges for taking classified documents?

You can bet you sweet bippy the rest of us would be charged...especially those who work for defense contractors or other federal agencies/departments, who work close to anything dealing with national defense. SHAME on HIM!!! Rush is right...if this had been Condi Rice or any other Republican, this would be front-page, 24-hour, non-stop news coverage/commentary. Heard it's on page 17 of the NY Slimes and on the interior of the WPost as well. Sickening!

[GOPrincess]

This reminds me of the Senate Republicans discovering the memo with the Democrat plan to influence of an affirmative action court decision by preventing a judicial appointment before it was decided, and other important stuff about how the Dems were influenced to block judicial appointments...and the story became, how did the Republicans get the memo, and Republican heads roll. Democrat senators, along with Gergen, are already telling the media how suspicious this news breaking now is...

The Dems are trying to change this to the "timing of the release of this information." This can't be allowed to happen! This is HUGE -- I mean, I thought this was huge last night, but in his SOCKS?! This is bigger than Watergate. As Hugh Hewitt and Rush Limbaugh have said, among others, if this was Condi Rice just imagine what would be going on in the media today.