Posted on 07/21/2004 1:15:11 PM PDT by The_Victor
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites)'s presidential campaign accused the Bush White House on Wednesday of disclosing the existence of a criminal investigation against former national security adviser Sandy Berger for political advantage.
The objective of such a leak, the Kerry campaign said in a political memo distributed by email, was to take attention away from a report to be issued on Thursday by the commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The criminal investigation of Berger began last October but only came to light this week.
"The timing of this leak suggests that the White House is more concerned about protecting its political hide than hearing what the commission has to say about strengthening our security," the Kerry campaign said.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the White House had nothing to do with the disclosure that Berger, who was national security adviser under former President Bill Clinton (news - web sites), was under investigation for removing copies of highly classified documents from the National Archives.
"I'm not aware of how this story came about. I know of no one in the White House that is aware of how this story came about," McClellan said.
He said officials in the White House legal counsel's office were made aware of the Berger investigation some time ago because they were in charge of putting together documents for the Sept. 11 commission to see.
Complaining of the "questionable timing" of the leak, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee (news - web sites), Terry McAuliffe, filed a Freedom of Information Act request seeking the release of any correspondence between the Justice Department (news - web sites) and the White House on the Berger probe.
Berger and one of his lawyers said on Monday he had inadvertently removed copies of a classified memo, as well as his notes on the material, as he reviewed it to determine what Clinton administration-era documents could be turned over to the Sept. 11 commission.
Republicans have accused Berger of stealing the documents for use by Kerry's campaign. Berger was an informal foreign policy adviser for Kerry until he stepped down on Tuesday in the heat of the flap over the documents.
The Sept. 11 report is expected to detail as many as 10 missed opportunities to head off the Sept. 11 attacks but stop short of saying the attacks could have been prevented.
Sweep before thy own pathetic bent doorstep girly man.
It is the leakers fault. And he still garners ~50% of the vote. What a clueless nation of citizens we have here.
This is a load.
If anyone leaked it, it was the Dems themselves. This news is about to get buried by the 9/11 Commission report and the DNC convention. So when it all comes back when charges are filed against the crook, they will say that this issue has been 'vetted' already, and the charges are political. And the LSM will lap it up as gospel like the whores they are.
Well they can't very well accuse the Clintons now can they?
When the law is on your side, argue the law.
When neither the facts or the law is on your side, attack your opponent.
Steaming Pantload Alert
Just drink your Koolaid and repeat after me.
"It's not about the crime it's about the time"
Hypocrites.
If Rice had been accused of stealing documents and the investigation were kept secret...
Bush would be accused of covering it up.
In this case, I would say the Democrats are trying to distract from what Sandy Burglar did and cover it up.
Here is something that I don't get. If Kerry knew about the investigation,which has been going on since last October, why did he take Burgler on as his "chief foreign policy adviser." They had to know it was going to come out at some time or other, whichever side decided to break it. Or did they just want to wait and see if Burgler would be indicted and let it come out that way?
Hardball time. Release the videos now of "Pantload Berger" stuffing top secret papers where the sun never shines.
It's hard to believe Kerry is a "war hero" (did you know he served in Viet Nam?), because he is NOT a war hero.
Sad but true.
It wasn't leaked intentionally. Someone probably just put investigation records in their pocket and then lost them in some media's office. It was an honest mistake.
No. WE have to turn the 'spin' around.
It's not 'why is this being leaked now?'
The question is: Why wasn't this REPORTED until now?
Who was behind the cover-up?
And who was behind the theft?
They'd question the "timing" no matter when it happened. Anyway, Berger -- and evidently Clinton too -- have known about this for months. They could have put out the word themselves and timed it to their advantage, but chose not to. Tough bleep if it happens at a time they don't like.
LOL Oh don't get them started!
Kerry has not denied that he used the classified info, or that he knew it was classified. He could be looking at time as well as Berger.
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