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 ...
How Richard Clarke concocted the TWA 800 'exit strategy' ... and why
FReeper Research: GORELICK WORKED WITH RICHARD CLARKE! (HHS website transcript)
The 9-11 Commission should be called upon to reconvene its hearings, and hear from Sandy Berger, and perhaps recall Richard Clarke, to determine what exactly was in those documents which have now been destroyed; determine whether the information in these documents may have an bearing upon the Commission's final recommendations. The fact that Commission seems to have no real interest in this is again evidence that it is primarily a partisan entity determined to find fault (Bush's) in the 9-11 attacks, and to not be confused with the facts!
I'm suspecting the same. Get it out yourself, get it out early, give it your own spin and blame the other side for leaking it. It would fit the MO.
Bill Richardson on Fox now talking about a "careless sloppy moment" (make that moments, plural, Bill). Now he recalls Berger being unkempt. Next we'll be hearing recollections of Berger always having documents falling out of a sock here, a shirt sleeve there. This was just Sandy's way, we'll be told.
Investigators, are you listening to this claptrap?
The newest spin is that Bergler is always disheveled and sloppy in his appearance, and this is just a case of sloppiness!
I'm sure Hillary scurried down one of her holes before this broke.
It is possible that Mr. Berger repeated the mistake with more versions of the document.
He was National Security Advisor for 4 years.
Virtually everything that crossed his desk was classfied.
He knew the rules, which are quite clear.
And he brazenly broke the rules.
Too bad the American people don't realize there's statutorily no such thing as "a mistake" when it comes to classified materials. Any infraction whatsoever is at best legal negligence, while everything we so far know about Berger makes it clear this was willful and intentional behavior. A federal felony.
This has the same tone as when the 900 FBI files got lost until they found them in Hillary's room...
Why is it "doubtful"? We're talking about a member of the Clinton White House! When speaking of a former Clinton official, it's justified to assume malicious intent!!
You're DAMN right!!
This whole this is going to be quite embarrasing for him when its finally discovered that Berger was flirting with a female staffer and stuffed his socks into his pants.
I'm sure Hillary scurried down one of her holes before this broke.""
Only after she made the advance payment to the 'mechanics' of Berger's next chartered flight.......
Hey Sandy,
A little advice for ya.....A) Quit stealing Classified Documents!
B) For the rest of your days....GO GREYHOUND>>>
Why was bill clinton in France when this broke?
By all accounts - and so far there's no rebuttal of this - the National Archives staff became suspicious and tracked his document filching over several visits. So presumably they saw him stuffing docs into his jacket and pants and socks.
But they're following procedure and giving him nondisclosures and affidavits to sign, and then watching him commit perjury (lying on a federal nondisclosure and other docs).
Honestly, they must have thought the former National Security Advisor had flipped his wig. As in, stark raving nutso.
By all accounts - and so far there's no rebuttal of this - the National Archives staff became suspicious and tracked his document filching over several visits. So presumably they saw him stuffing docs into his jacket and pants and socks.
But they're following procedure and giving him nondisclosures and affidavits to sign, and then watching him commit perjury (lying on a federal nondisclosure and other docs).
Honestly, they must have thought the former National Security Advisor had flipped his wig. As in, stark raving nutso.
I'm looking to see if there's a write up of the reporter conference, because that's what I heard, too. I did find this event from Feb. 27:
excerpt (scroll down--btw, check out the photo on the page):
In his speech Friday, Kerry pressed for renewed alliances with other nations, reliable intelligence and vigorous law enforcement as part of the war on terrorism.
He accused the Bush administration of having an ad-hoc approach to stamping out terrorism, and said the United States must restore its alliances with other nations for a more coordinated approach. Many countries objected to the U.S. invasion of Iraq last year.
"We cannot win the war on terror through military power alone," Kerry said.
Kerry also accused the White House of not cooperating with an independent investigation into intelligence surrounding the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
"I believe it is in America's interest to know the truth about 9/11," Kerry said. "Mr. President, stop stonewalling the commission and stop hiding behind excuses."
~snip~
10. "It was a cold day."
9. "There was a stiff wind."
8. "I had forgotten my overcoat."
7. "My pants were thin and threadbare."
6. "My mother doesn't let me go out without paper."
5. "I missed my morning paper at the newsstand today."
4. "Not having my glasses, I thought it said "Top-Scenic."
3. "I was auditioning for the John Deutch part in a future SNL skit."
2. "I was auditioning for the Fawn Hall part in a future SNL skit."
1. "I was auditioning for the Martha Stewart part in a future SNL skit."
Why do I get the impression that the Clinton crime syndicate set this poor dolt up? Clearly, the guy's expendable.
That is a great point!
When I was in college...I worked in the Academic Dean's office for one of the Schools within the Univ.
And we dealt with advising. I handled documents all the time. But when I was trained...I was warned in serious tone...what could happen if Student files, Financial Aid status records, and other official documents came up missing or were misused (taken or given out).
It could be viewed as a crime. And there would not be much getting around the issue. Those were college records......BERGER STOLE CLASSIFIED NATIONAL SECURITY DOCUMENTS!
And as you mentioned....the statutes on those are very clear.
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