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Hastert Statement on Berger Allegations
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=134-07202004 ^

Posted on 07/20/2004 11:30:49 AM PDT by ncfool

click here to read article


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To: ncfool

That statement simply floors me. What a story.


41 posted on 07/20/2004 11:53:23 AM PDT by lainie
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To: Sybeck1

Carla Marx Pelosi is silent.


42 posted on 07/20/2004 11:53:43 AM PDT by beyond the sea (There's always one to turn and walk away ........ and one who just wants to stay)
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To: Smogger

Apparently what was stolen was Richard Clarke's memos.

http://cnn.law.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=CNN.com+-+Federal+probe+targets+Clinton%27s+national+security+adviser+-+Jul+20%2C+2004&expire=-1&urlID=11058358&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2004%2FLAW%2F07%2F20%2Fberger.probe%2Findex.html&partnerID=2013

Federal probe targets Clinton's national security adviser
From John King
CNN



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.

The Associated Press first reported the story Monday.

In a statement, Berger acknowledged that he removed his handwritten notes without first having them reviewed for sensitive information, and he also said he "inadvertently" removed some of the classified documents he had reviewed during his time at the Archives.

National Archives' policy requires that if someone reviews classified documents and wants to take their handwritten notes with them, those notes must first be cleared by archivists.

In his statement, Berger said that "when I was informed by the Archives there were documents missing, I immediately returned everything I had, except for a few documents that apparently I had accidentally discarded."

"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," he said.

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.

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.

Sources close to Berger said they did not believe there was a grand jury impaneled as part of the investigation and that to the best of their knowledge, Clarke and other Clinton administration officials who have knowledge of the documents in question -- and specifically about any changes made in the drafting process of the millennium report -- have not been questioned.

One of these sources questioned the timing of the leak, three days before the public release of the 9/11 commission report.

"There is a story here, and Sandy concedes he made an inadvertent mistake," one source, a former Clinton administration colleague, said. "But this has been kept confidential for months. So why now?"

A Justice Department spokesman had no comment when asked about the Berger probe.

Berger currently serves as an informal adviser to the campaign of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry.








43 posted on 07/20/2004 11:54:11 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (Teresa Heinz Kerry: 'I have to say that John Edwards is very beautiful'...)
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To: ncfool

Let loose the dogs...


44 posted on 07/20/2004 11:55:11 AM PDT by GVnana (Tagline? I don't need no stinkin' tagline!)
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Condoleeza's gotta be loving this more than just about anyone except Leno and Letterman!

The American public knows you've got something to hide when you stuff things in your pants! LOL. Ain't just small johnsonitis in this case.

45 posted on 07/20/2004 11:55:12 AM PDT by twgiles
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To: ncfool
Good Hastert's at least saying it. This ridiculous 'inadvertant' crap is as bad as any of Clinton's 'didn't inhale/we were never alone' laughers...
46 posted on 07/20/2004 11:56:25 AM PDT by atomicpossum (I give up! Entropy, you win!)
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To: cripplecreek
copies ended up in the hands of John Kerrys nameless foreign friends

Or Berger covers for them.

47 posted on 07/20/2004 11:56:56 AM PDT by GVnana (Tagline? I don't need no stinkin' tagline!)
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To: beyond the sea

We refer to her as Pelosi Galore!


48 posted on 07/20/2004 11:57:11 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (Teresa Heinz Kerry: 'I have to say that John Edwards is very beautiful'...)
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To: ncfool

Millenium Report

Before the 9/1 Commission Ashcroft was asked if he'd been briefed on the after-action Millenium Report which IIRC was the substance of Clarke's false claim that the Administration had not heeded his warnings.

Ashcroft responded:

But the fourth refers to the millennium after-action review and its recommendations about disrupting the Al Qaida network.

And as you point out, fully 17 months before September 11th, the review makes these recommendations. Nine of those months were in the Clinton administration; eight of them were in yours.

Did you make any changes reflecting that millennium after-action review in your time as attorney general before 9/11?

ASHCROFT: This is a report which was not briefed to me or briefed to other individuals. It was a report which is a classified report.

GORTON: So you didn't know of its existence?

ASHCROFT: No, it turns out, when I learned of its existence, these were the very things following September 11th. www.post-gazette.com/pg/04105/300543.stm


Various versions of this report are the very documents Berger removed and "misplaced" before Clinton testified before the Commission. Clinton was accompanied to that hearing by Sandy Berger (the thief of the docuemtns) and Bruce Lindsey (who the Archives had notified of the documents removal).



49 posted on 07/20/2004 12:00:53 PM PDT by the Real fifi
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To: Texans

See #43. And....according to Dick Morris, Berger is the guy who said no to the Sudanese when they wanted to give Bin Laden up to Clinton.


50 posted on 07/20/2004 12:01:01 PM PDT by GVnana (Tagline? I don't need no stinkin' tagline!)
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To: ncfool
Seattle Times

Breuer said the Archives staff first raised concerns with Berger during an Oct. 2 review of documents that at least one copy of the post-millennium report he had reviewed earlier was missing. Berger was given a second copy that day, Breuer said. Officials familiar with the investigation said Archives staff specially marked the documents and when the new copy and others disappeared, Archives officials called Clinton attorney Bruce Lindsey to report the disappearance.

... Justice Department officials have told the Sept. 11 commission of the Berger incident and the nature of the documents in case commissioners wanted more information, officials said. The commission is expected to release its final report Thursday. Congressional intelligence committees, however, have not been formally notified.

Berger is the second high-level Clinton-era official to face controversy over taking classified information home. Former CIA Director John Deutch was pardoned by Clinton just hours before Clinton left office in 2001 for taking home classified information and keeping it on unsecured computers at his home during his time at the CIA and Pentagon. Deutch was about to enter into a plea agreement for a misdemeanor charge of mishandling government secrets when the pardon was granted

I want to know if Archive officals knew he was stealing stuff, A. Why didn't they stop him? B. Why did they call Bruce Lindsey. C. Why didn't they call the damned FBI?

51 posted on 07/20/2004 12:01:35 PM PDT by Flint
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To: Texans; patton; IGOTMINE; JBS; xsmommy
Obvious question is....WHY BERGER???... I'm beyond words !

I don't think I'll shock anyone by saying I did not and still do not care for anything related to the Impeached Rapist's Administration. But even with that strong bias, I honestly thought this was simply a case of Sandy being careless with some documents and/or notes. What I'm reading is just incredible!

52 posted on 07/20/2004 12:01:48 PM PDT by Coop (In memory of a true hero - Pat Tillman)
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To: ncfool

Hastert's statement is the best I've heard today and should be repeated by all Republicans. Lott was his usual mealy-mouthed self this morning--playing down the whole thing. The Dems would be out for blood, but Reps will help them sweep it under the rug.


53 posted on 07/20/2004 12:10:40 PM PDT by razorbak
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To: ncfool

Are there going to be any heads rolling, like for instance, Clintons, Gores, Madaline Albright and shaky whats her name?


54 posted on 07/20/2004 12:11:45 PM PDT by Grassontop ("If both Johns were flushed at the same time, Bush wins!" "Girlie men are the demoncrats!")
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To: Grassontop

"Shaky whats her name=Janet Reno."


55 posted on 07/20/2004 12:13:02 PM PDT by Grassontop ("If both Johns were flushed at the same time, Bush wins!" "Girlie men are the demoncrats!")
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Wasn't Berger originally going to be named to the 9-11 commission? I thought I read that here someplace.


56 posted on 07/20/2004 12:14:32 PM PDT by vollmond (DS2 CV-66 83-87)
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To: M. Peach
"I hear you - I don't know what it is with this administration. They have been so reluctant to do anything to tarnish the Clinton administration."

I listen to Fox Cable News and they have had several RATS and Republicans on to comment about this.

So far - the Republicans seem to be agreeing with the RATS about what a great guy and patriotic public servant Berger is!

Look how they handled the damning memos about the RATS plan to defeat everything GW is trying to do. The Republicans overlooked the content and called for an investigation of themselves.

What about Gorelick sitting on the questioning side of the 911 committee when she should be answering the questions instead of asking them.

They are either with us or against us. It just seems to go on and on. The Republican party needs to get real about their leadership.

57 posted on 07/20/2004 12:15:04 PM PDT by LADY J
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To: ncfool
"It is my understanding that Mr. Berger shoved this classified information into his clothing to smuggle them out of the National Archives..."

He seriously did that?!?! Thats worse than friggin Watergate! What the hell?

58 posted on 07/20/2004 12:18:48 PM PDT by smith288 (Flush the Johns! Bush-Cheney '04)
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To: M. Peach

copies of 900+ FBI files in Hillary's possession may have something to do with that


59 posted on 07/20/2004 12:19:38 PM PDT by Boxsford
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To: Houmatt

Perfect. Exactly. But we won't. Our side often lacks the spirit to really come on strong when we most need it. Like right now. As previously said, if Condoleeza Rice had been accused of having taken documents from the Archives, the Liberals/Democrats would be crying for her resignation RIGHT NOW. Unfortunately, since Sandy is already out, the Republicans should be getting down and dirty and not hold anything back. I concur totally with your remarks.


60 posted on 07/20/2004 12:24:25 PM PDT by Max7
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