Justice Dept.: Berger Shredding Wasn't Cover-up

NewsMax.com ^ | April 2, 2005 | Carl Limbacher

[rightalien]

Former national security advisor Sandy Berger wasn't trying to conceal information when he stuffed five copies of a top secret terrorism report in his pants and socks during two trips to the National Archives in 2003 - before taking the documents home and cutting three of the copies "into small pieces."

That was the claim yestderday of Noel Hillman, chief of the Justice Department's public integrity section, as he tried to explain to Washington, D.C. Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson why Berger should be let off the hook with a minor fine and no jailtime.

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Berger "did not have an intent to hide any of the content of the documents," Hillman insisted with a straight face. Instead, he explained, department lawyers concluded that Berger took the documents merely for personal convenience - to prepare for his and President Clinton's testimony before the Sept. 11 Commission - and not to hide any embarrassing evidence, the Washington Post said Saturday.

A report in Friday's New York Times, however, cast substantial doubt on that conclusion.

"In comparing the versions [of the stolen documents] at his office later that day, [Berger] realized that several were essentially the same, and he cut three copies into small pieces," the paper reported, sourcing a Berger "associate."

Aware of the problem, prosecutor Hillman told the judge that the top Clinton official only had copies of the documents - not the originals - and so he was not charged with the more serious crime of destroying documents.

Still, questions remain about whether the copies Berger destroyed had original handwritten notes in the margins - possibly written by other Clinton officials who had reviewed the material when it was first written.

In a brief statement outside the federal courthouse yesterday, Berger said, "I exercised very poor judgment in the course of reviewing documents at the National Archives. I deeply regret it."

But he insisted that his only motivation was to adequately prepare himself and "others" to answer questions from 9/11 probers.

Berger wasn't asked to explain why he destroyed three out of the five copies he had stolen.

[rightalien]

Good morning everybody,

I just woke up from a dream. My dream was that we had a new administration since 2001. Then I realized it was just a dream, everything is the same old, same old, the Clinton people are still at work all around, in every sensitive positions.

[freekitty]

I agree. If this wasn't a coverup; then what the you know what was it?

[gorush]

You bet! This is BS. Same old, same old...plus we still can't vote for judges, so what's the use?

[ClearCase_guy]

Berger wasn't asked to explain why he destroyed three out of the five copies he had stolen.

I guess no one was curious about that point.

[Diogenesis]

950 Stolen FBI files are '950 misplaced badges of honor'

Whitey Bulger of the Winter Hill Gang is now "Dr. Bulger, physician"

Sandy Berger -CODE LEVEL theif is now 'Official National Archivist'

Meanwhile every whistleblower will be sent to 'judge' Greer for execution.

The technology given to the PRC to destroy the USA is now 'an overseas investment'

The FBI translation bureau which cheered 911 have been elevated to Supervisory positions.

[cgbg]

This administration seems to be spending a lot of time covering up for the Clintonoids, whether it be Sandy Burglar, the Clinton pardons, the Oklahoma City ME connection, TWA 800, Vince Foster etc. etc. etc.

It seems that inside the beltway everybody belongs to one political party--unfortunately the rest of us have not been invited to the dance. :-(

[Txsleuth]

If what you say is true, then I somehow had the exact same dream---

Where is the BUSH Justice Department on this? and the REAL crime in the ruling is that this traitor will get back his security clearance in the 3 years--

Hm....3 years, and why was that # chosen, I wonder?

[snowman1]

Just a plain old case of COVER YOUR ASS CHARLIE I will lay you odds that there was a lot of hand written stuff on them.

[Aria]

I was hoping two terms of Bush would turn this awful tide, but now it looks like maybe we were just a bump in the road to the inevitable decline and fall. So much bad news this week.

[demlosers]

"Justice Dept.: Berger Shredding Wasn't Cover-up"

And s**t don't stink.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Mr. Berger, you see, recently acquired a pair of matched hamsters as ordinary housepets, and due to the sensitive nature of his former assignments, decided that it would be in the best interest of his pets that their cage should be lined strictly with shredded de-classified documents instead of excelsior or wood chips. In this case, Mr. Berger's only mistake in comportment was to utilize not-yet-declassified documents, and since said documents were shredded during the course of Mr. Bergers' actions, no harm, no foul.

Unbelievable.

[EternalHope]

Of course it was a coverup.

The only question is whether the sentence is part of a larger plea bargain.

I'm betting it was NOT. Another member of the Clinton crime family gets away with treason.

[MinuteGal]

Obviously, the Berger King has a personal attorney who's on his side.

Then, according to the above article, he has the Justice Department attorney on his side.

Now all he needs is the judge to be on his side.....and he'll have a threefer.

Extra relish and hold the tomato.

Leni

[Army Air Corps]

Bush appointees are still waiting for congress to review them...

[GretchenM]

"Berger 'did not have an intent to hide any of the content of the documents,' Hillman insisted ... "

hide
v.tr.
1. To put or keep out of sight; secrete.
2. To prevent the disclosure or recognition of; conceal: tried to hide the facts.
3. To cut off from sight; cover up: "Clouds hid the stars."
http://ie.thefreedictionary.com/hide

Okay, Mr. Hillman, explain that again?

[cloud8]

I don't think there has ever been a wholesale prosecution of a previous administration by an incoming administration. It just isn't done. At the same time, Berger stole and destroyed the docs on W's watch, and I don't see why DOJ is doing everything possible to mitigate his sentence...if anyone deserves some time at Club Fed, it's Sandy Berger.

[texasbluebell]

Former national security advisor Sandy Berger wasn't trying to conceal information when he stuffed five copies of a top secret terrorism report in his pants and socks during two trips to the National Archives in 2003 - before taking the documents home and cutting three of the copies "into small pieces."

Instead, he explained, department lawyers concluded that Berger took the documents merely for personal convenience - to prepare for his and President Clinton's testimony before the Sept. 11 Commission - and not to hide any embarrassing evidence, the Washington Post said Saturday.

Um, does not compute.

If he needed the documents to prepare for testimony, why did he cut them up, Noel?

[RedwM]

Ya see Liz... I knew we were overreacting. (sarc.) Well, back to Mad Tv. (not sarc.) See ya.

[LRS]

http://www.usoge.gov/pages/conference/cf_files/12th_2003_conf/12th_2003_handouts/hillman_bio.pdf#search='Noel%20Hillman%20bio'
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
NAME :Noel L.Hillman
POSITION TITLE :Chief
SECTION/OFFICE :Public Integrity
CONTACT INFORMATION :
Telephone Number:307-0737
Fax Number:514-3003
Address:Bond Building,Room 12100,1400 New York Avenue,N.W.
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY WITHIN CRIMINAL DIVISION/DEPARTMENT :
Assistant U.S.Attorney -District of New Jersey (1992-2001)
Trial Attorney -Campaign Finance Task Force (1999-2000)
Joined Criminal Division (September 2001 )
PROFESSIONAL MILESTONES :
EOUSA Director ’s Awards (1996 &1999)
Deputy Chief -Criminal Division -District of New Jersey (2000)
Principal Deputy Chief -Public Integrity (2001)
Acting Chief -Public Integrity (2002)
Chief -Public Integrity (2003)
AREAS OF EXPERTISE :Public corruption;campaign finance;money laundering;export and arms
control;government contracting,mail,wire,insurance,financial institution,and securities fraud;
narcotics;firearms;smuggling;customs law;international trade;antitrust;and intellectual
property.
ACADEMIC INFORMATION :B.A.cum laude (English Honors Program),Monmouth College,
1981;J.D.cum laude,Seton Hall University School of Law,1985;LL.M.(Trade Regulation),
New York University School of Law,1998
PERSONAL :Bicycling,surfing,skiing,kayaking,politics,investing,and reading.

---

http://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/robinson-deborah-bio.html
Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson

Magistrate Judge Robinson was sworn in as United States Magistrate on July 18, 1988. She is a graduate of Morgan State University and Emory University School of Law. Magistrate Judge Robinson clerked for Chief Judge H. Carl Moultrie I of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia from 1978 to 1979. Following her clerkship, she joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, where she served for eight years prior to her appointment.
Chambers: (202) 354-3070

Courtroom Deputy:
Lorita Miller (202) 354-3167

[7.62 x 51mm]

Sandy Burglar should be going to prison. He's subhuman, liberal-demokkkRAT garbage.