Hastert Statement on Berger Allegations

U.S. Newswire ^ | July 20, 2004

[we_will_prevail]

7/20/2004 12:54:00 PM

To: National Desk

Contact: John Feehery or Pete Jeffries, 202-225-2800, both of the Office of House Speaker Dennis Hastert

WASHINGTON, July 20 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today, House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) released the following statement regarding allegations that former National Security Advisor Sandy Berger removed highly classified terrorism documents and handwritten notes from a secure reading room during preparations for the 9/11 Commission hearings:

"I am profoundly troubled by allegations that former National Security Advisor Sandy Berger removed highly classified documents from the National Archives regarding the Clinton Administration's handling of terrorist attacks prior to the September 11th attacks.

"What could those documents have said that drove Mr. Berger to remove them without authorization from a secure reading room for classified documents?

"What information could be so embarrassing that a man with decades of experience in handling classified documents would risk being caught pilfering our nation's most sensitive secrets?

"Did these documents detail simple negligence or did they contain something more sinister? Was this a bungled attempt to rewrite history and keep critical information from the 9/11 Commission and potentially put their report under a cloud?

"It is my understanding that Mr. Berger shoved this classified information into his clothing to smuggle them out of the National Archives. Press reports indicate that Archival staff became concerned when documents began to disappear and specifically marked additional documents to track them. A number of those documents also turned up missing.

"Mr. Berger has a lot of explaining to do. He was given access to these documents to assist the 9/11 Commission, not hide information from them. The American people and the 9/11 families don't want cover-ups when it comes to the War on Terror. They want the truth. And so does the U.S. House of Representatives."

[onyx]

CNN is reporting THAT?
I am immensely surprised.

[My2Cents]

Why does every scandal involving the Democrats involve pants?

[Sacajaweau]

Don't think so...That usually involves an undercover participant. This was a secure site and you are subject to the scrutiny by accessing it.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

This is one time they're not going to get away with sweeping it under the rug.

We'll see...the lamestream media seems to be giving token coverage of this today.

[monkeywrench]

"The docs dealt with the Clinton administration's response to Al Queda entering the U.S. in '99. This goes back squarely to the question of national security and how the Dems handle it and how Bush has handled it since then."

Wow!! If we get hit by terrorists again, they won't be able to put it all on President Bush. They knew alqueda and hamas were coming in and did nothing. This may be a premptive theft.

[gathersnomoss]

The biggest story of this 9/11 investigation and, you are right. No backbone = a weak country. Thanks, Republicans for not delivering...AGAIN!

[Judith Anne]

TIGHTY-WHITEYGATE!!! I love it!

[My2Cents]

Someone on FOX this morning was saying that The White House was not going to touch this.

That doesn't mean the campaign won't. And of course DOJ is alreay all over it.

[Badeye]

If the Speaker of the House is serious, he will be doing the political talk shows from Fox to MSNBC to CNN and everything in between.

I hope he does.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

well thank goodness someone stepped up to issue a statement like this before Pat Roberts or Hagel can get to a microphone to exonerate Berger.

I've already gone on a rant to a friend of mine who works for Sen. Grassley. He may have the guts to go after this.

[MaeWest]

Sandy gets ready for another day of research in the National Archives.

[Judith Anne]

It's been reported that Berger met with Kerry and others in the campaign AFTER accessing and taking the documents.

Wish I could link the report, but it's here somewhere on FR...

[gathersnomoss]

"Prediction:
The unanimous 9/11 report will be be put on hold at the end of the week because of suddenly developed dissenting opinions."

The 9/11 report is null and void until this is fully investigated.

[BluH2o]

Unfortunately, being invertebrates, the Republicans will do nothing about it.

Any minute now I expect Senator Orin Hatch (R) Utah to jump in and tell us Sandy Berger is really a great American and we should all just "move on".

[Sacajaweau]

Didn't Clinton testify before the committee, BUT NOT UNDER OATH (like it means anything to Bubba). Someone said Berger & ?? were with Bubba when he testified.

[gathersnomoss]

CYA...SeeBS

[TruBluKentuckian]

Thanks, that's a start, but I hope for more. If it turns out that unique documents are indeed missing, then this is going to get big.

[Mo1]

jmho...I could be wrong.

But it's VERY possible ..

Wow .. my head is spinning here

[NutCrackerBoy]

Gergen's earlier speculation about Berger having to be distanced from the Kerry campaign depending on how it bounced in the press was an attempt to make this whole thing seem bland. It is not. And the weak spin of "why the timing?" will be drowned out by the hughness of the story.

[Judith Anne]

mainstream media isn't going to invite Hastert, silly.