Posted on 07/20/2004 10:47:03 AM PDT by cyncooper
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Samuel Berger, former President Clinton's national security adviser, is under federal criminal investigation for allegedly removing classified documents and handwritten notes from a National Archives screening room during preparations for his testimony before the 9/11 commission.
Sources familiar with the investigation confirmed it to CNN on Monday.
The sources told CNN the investigation began last October, after Berger spent roughly 30 hours over three or four days reviewing what one said was "tens of thousands of pages" of Clinton administration documents to comply with a request from the 9/11 commission.
Berger was designated as the official from the Clinton administration who would review documents relevant to commission inquiries. He was also a witness at the 9/11 commission hearings and reviewed records to prepare for his personal testimony.
~snip~
A Berger associate, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the FBI served warrants and searched both Berger's home and office earlier this year as part of the investigation.
A government official familiar with the investigation said that some documents are still missing.
Among the documents Berger says he inadvertently took, the sources confirmed, were drafts of a Clinton administration "after action" report on efforts to thwart al Qaeda around the time of the millennium.
Archives officials told investigators that at least one draft of that report is still missing.
Officials close to Berger said it was ludicrous to suggest that he was trying to hide damaging information from the 9/11 commission.
They said the drafts were written by Clinton counterterrorism czar Richard Clarke and had been changed somewhat, as is customary, as the drafts were circulated among relevant agencies and officials.
But the sources close to Berger said there were other copies of the drafts, that the commission had the final version of the report and that Clarke had said there were not significant changes during the drafting process.
The sources said the FBI had contacted Berger several months ago and that he hired Lanny Breuer, who has since been in contact with prosecutors.
~snip~
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.law.printthis.clickability.com ...
PING
Good post, cyn.
The Clarke link cannot be overlooked.
I want to see what Clarke actually said. And what he thinks now, now his prior words are becoming an excuse.
"not significant changes" - If they weren't significant, Berger wouldn't have taken them.
According to Berger, he "accidentally" stuffed the papers in his pants - and he didn't mean "pockets."
That ever happen to you? You accidentally stuff documents in your pants that you meant to put back where they belong?
Didn't think so.
CNN reports that Berger took documents authored by Richard Clarke.
Indeed...
DOES THIS ACT BY BERGER MEAN THAT
CLINTON KNEW ABOUT AL QUAIDA..........
DOES THIS ACT BY BERGER MEAN THAT
CLINTON KNEW ABOUT AL QUAIDA'S PLAN TO USE PLANES ..............
Berger has stressed his willingness to cooperate, but investigators have not asked to speak directly with him as yet, the sources said.
Asked if it unusual that Berger has not yet been interviewed, the government official familiar with the investigation responded that investigators would do so once they are satisfied they have the evidence they need.
Hmmmmmmmmm
Altering documents huh?
DANG .. is FR slow or is it just me?
Los Clintonos Lab notes....
/sarcasm
Good Gawd!!
OK, so he just has a fetish for paper?
Also, it isn't ludicrous to claim the timing of this scandal to be suspicious?
Knowing this crew I honestly wouldn't be surprised to hear one of his "associates" present this as an explanation. I'm serious.
And I guess we're just supposed to take Clarke's word for it?
I don't think so.
just draft documents with comments and edits as they go through the system to become final. Nothing sinister here.
I expect they just fell down his pants and he didn't notice them till he got undressed later in the whorehouse where he went to meet bill, it can happen you know.
Nothing to see here...move on..
Sorta like the nice soft feel of womens lingerie on the male body. I guess them paper cuts would be nasty down the shorts.
OK, so he just has a fetish for paper?
Also, it isn't ludicrous to claim the timing of this scandal to be suspicious?
Sandy Berger is covering his ass.
How can 911 comission make a report when they didn't have all the documents.
But of course, it's just like WACO, they get rid of all the things damaging to them.
Sandy Berger believes, just like Mr. Perry, that our soventy should be turned over to the United Nations.
After all that has transpired since '93 in national politics, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that it's true!
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