Federal probe targets Clinton's national security adviser

CNN.com ^ | July 20, 2004 | John King

[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~

[No Surrender No Retreat]

I am glad this does not fall under the purview of the Park Police. Remember Vince Foster. Bush/Cheney 2004

[ArmyBratproud]

You have a good point there.
And it looks like this is not going to go away (as my smile grows).

I think I just saw that Coulter will be on TV tonight.

Light the fuse!

[tractorman]

Coulter on TV?
What show?

[Mulch]

I guess the Berger part of the film was when I went out to get popcorn.

[ambrose]

Evil conspiracy by these liars to take down our president. I think it is becoming exposed now!

[cyncooper]

That's what the Wilson tall tale has always been. The Big Lie designed to bring down President Bush.

I wouldn't be surprised to see some documents relating to him in there...after all, 1999 was the year some of these docs were from and that's the year of Wilson's first trip to Niger...(the preceding mere speculation, more like wishful thinking on my part and completely baseless).