Docs in the Pants
Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., said the Kerry campaign "needs to come forward" about any information that could have been passed on to them from Berger.
"I don't know what happened to these documents after they were put in Mr. Berger's pants, but it's been reported in the press that these documents related to homeland security and our airports and seaports and it's very interesting to note that those are two areas where Sen. Kerry has been critical of the Homeland Security Department," Chambliss said. "I would hope, No. 1, that the Kerry administration would disavow any connections with Berger, that they would come forward with any documents ... and that we can bring this matter to a close very quickly."
Democratic strategist Richard Goodstein, however, said Kerry should "absolutely not" drop Berger from his team.
"The documents that Sandy supposedly took were copies. There are copies elsewhere throughout the [National] Archives and elsewhere in Washington, so it's not like he was trying to cover something up," Goodstein said.
But Ben Ginsburg, national counsel for the Bush-Cheney '04 campaign (search), said the big question is whether Kerry got his hands on any of the information in question.
"That's an essential question that needs to be answered from the Kerry campaign — did they benefit from documents that they should not have had?"
Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., said more information is needed before a judgment is made on Berger's actions, but "obviously, the timing of it is not good" for Kerry.
"From now on, until the election, everything like this will have a spotlight put on it, examined very carefully," Lott said.
Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., told FOX News that it's not yet known if there was any damage to national security as a result of Berger's alleged actions, but said the case shouldn't yet be put in a bright spotlight.
"I really don't see that this is going to be a major issue ... while it indicates some sloppiness, I don't think this is a big deal that would be — should be — the focus of national attention," Bond said.
"Unfortunately, there are a lot more serious [security] breaches every day … I wish we could get a better handle on the leaks that come from the members of Congress themselves because they have been harmful and they happen every day."
Kerry Campaign Response
The Kerry campaign maintains that most of the Clinton-era information conveyed to the Kerry campaign was delivered by former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke and former Deputy Secretary of State Jamie Rubin, a paid Kerry staffer.
Berger has been an informal, unpaid adviser; campaign officials said his participation in the campaign has been limited to conference calls and policy discussions inside the campaign and conversations with the press.
Within the Kerry campaign, speculation has long been made that Berger has kept himself out of Kerry's inner circle to remain available for a top posting in a potential Kerry administration. There was even talk that Berger was on Kerry's short list for director of central intelligence.
Privately, insiders say Berger had his share of critics in the Kerry campaign, largely as a function of the competition for the candidate's ear. Inside sources claim that when Berger didn't get a prominent paid official position, he backed away from the Kerry campaign.
Officials with the Bush-Cheney campaign point out that Berger gave a surprise background briefing to reporters on Feb. 27 on behalf of the Kerry campaign, in which he outlined airline security issues apparently drawn from the now-missing classified memos Berger is accused of removing from the National Archives (search).
SNIP
Kerry's spokesman Phil Singer released a statement to FOX News, questioning the timing of the report.
"This appears to be a partisan attempt to divert attention away from the 9/11 commission report. Instead of using the report's recommendations to learn how we can improve our homeland security, Republicans are playing politics with a criminal investigation. That's wrong, and in November voters will have a choice on the ballot between a candidate they can trust and a president that continues to mislead the nation," he said.
No matter what the outcome of the investigation, other lawmakers and observers said it's no coincidence the information's coming out now at the height of an election year.
"There's more politics around this town than you can cut with a knife — it's unbelievable," Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., told FOX News. "I've never seen Washington so partisanly charged. Frankly, I'm getting sick and tired of it and I suspect the American people are getting tired of it as well."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,126358,00.html
Kerry says 'no'. . .they did not benefit (I mean he is not President yet. . .Berger does not say the charges are untrue; rather he offers; and lamely; that the charges are . . .'wrong'.
Clinton wishes and washes. . .trying to clean the lies; but they are still recognizeable. . .oh, and yes, he has known for months. . .and what about the timing?
Smoke screen alert!...Incoming accusations of a VRWC!