Posted on 07/11/2005 7:07:57 AM PDT by Liz
Sandy Berger answers questions in the White House briefing room in this Thursday, March 25, 1999 file photo. Former national security adviser Sandy Berger will plead guilty to taking classified material from the National Archives, a misdemeanor, the Justice Department said Thursday. Berger is expected to appear in federal court in Washington on Friday, said Justice spokesman Bryan Sierra. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)
Former Ntl Security Advisor Pleads Guilty to Taking Classified Materials
WASHINGTON Apr 1, 2005 — Former national security adviser Sandy Berger, who once had unfettered access to the government's most sensitive secrets, pleaded guilty Friday to sneaking classified documents out of the National Archives, then using scissors to cut up some of them.
Rather than the "honest mistake" he described last summer, Berger acknowledged to U.S. Magistrate Deborah Robinson that he intentionally took and deliberately destroyed three copies of the same document dealing with terror threats during the 2000 millennium celebration. He then lied about it to Archives staff when they told him documents were missing.
"Guilty, your honor," Berger responded Friday when asked how he pleaded.
Magistrate Deborah Robinson did not ask Berger why he cut up the materials and threw them away at the Washington office of his Stonebridge International consulting firm. Berger, accompanied by his wife, Susan, did not offer an explanation when he addressed reporters outside the federal courthouse following the hearing.
"It was a mistake and it was wrong," he said, refusing to answer questions.
Noel Hillman, chief of the Justice Department's public integrity section, would not discuss Berger's motivation, but said the former national security adviser understood the rules governing the handling of classified materials. Berger only had copies of documents; all of the originals remain in the government's possession, Hillman said.
The charge of unauthorized removal and retention of classified material is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of a year in prison and up to a $100,000 fine.
However, under a plea agreement that still must be approved by Robinson, Berger would serve no jail time but pay a $10,000 fine, surrender his security clearance for three years and cooperate with investigators. Security clearance allows access to classified government materials.
Sentencing was set for July 8.
The court appearance was the culmination of a bizarre episode in which Berger, who once had access to the government's most sensitive intelligence, was accused of sneaking documents out of the Archives, which houses the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and other cherished and top-secret documents.
The Bush administration disclosed the investigation in July, just days before the Sept. 11 commission issued its final report. Democrats claimed the White House was using Berger to deflect attention from the harsh findings, with their potential for damaging President Bush's re-election prospects.
After news of the probe surfaced, Berger acknowledged he left the National Archives on two occasions in 2003 with copies of documents about the government's anti-terror efforts and notes that he took on those documents.
He said he was reviewing the materials to help determine which Clinton administration documents to provide to the commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks. He called the episode "an honest mistake" and denied criminal wrongdoing.
Berger and his lawyer, Lanny Breuer, have said that Berger knowingly removed the handwritten notes by placing them in his jacket and pants and inadvertently took copies of actual classified documents in a leather portfolio.
He returned two copies of a sensitive after-action report on the Clinton administration's handling of al-Qaida terror threats during the December 1999 millennium celebration.
The Associated Press first reported in July that the Justice Department was investigating Berger. The disclosure prompted Berger to step down as an adviser to the campaign of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.
Clinton was among the Democrats who questioned the timing of the disclosure of the Berger probe three days before the release of the Sept. 11 report. Leaders of the Sept. 11 commission said they were able to get every key document needed to complete their report.
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Beyond that, why does he still have a security clearance at all? He is not in the government and hasn't been since the felon from Arkansas slinked out of town on January 20, 2001. What gives?
"If any of us had done this, we'd never get a security clearance in our lives." Having had a security clearance, I can say unequivocably the typical person would have gone to jail over something of this magnitude. Never mind not getting another clearance.
Rather than the "honest mistake" he described last summer, Berger acknowledged to U.S. Magistrate Deborah Robinson that he intentionally took and deliberately destroyed three copies of the same document dealing with terror threats during the 2000 millennium celebration. He then lied about it to Archives staff when they told him documents were missing."Guilty, your honor," Berger responded Friday when asked how he pleaded.
Magistrate Deborah Robinson did not ask Berger why he cut up the materials and threw them away at the Washington office of his Stonebridge International consulting firm. Berger, accompanied by his wife, Susan, did not offer an explanation when he addressed reporters outside the federal courthouse following the hearing.
"It was a mistake and it was wrong," he said, refusing to answer questions.
This guy needs to be in jail without any benefits at all and a rather stiff penality payment along with no security clearance for life.
It's just like our government to try and pull a fast one on the American people.
I will send the article to my local talk radio show. So far, I have not heard a word about it.
I would also like to know how many OTHER copies were made? Who recieved copies? Did Sandy receive money for said copies? The guy stole documents dealing with national security and says he cut them up?? The guy is a crook and they take his word that he cut them up and did not make other copies or pass them on the the highest bidder??
"It was a mistake and it was wrong,"
That was the probation and $10,000 fine.
What he did was criminal.
BTTT
The other sickening fact is Sandy Burglar will still be eligible for a job in any and every future Democratic Administration.
Snort----trying to throw us off the scent---this is the most notorious case before that court----it has gotten tons of publicity.
BUMP
However, under a plea agreement that still must be approved by Robinson, Berger would serve no jail time but pay a $10,000 fine, surrender his security clearance for three years and cooperate with investigators. Security clearance allows access to classified government materials.
On its face, this is an outrage in re "justice". Berger is a despicable thief and a liar. And this ruling just opens the way for More "so-called classified" data abusers to get inside the national archives and commit doc atrocities. $10,000 and No Jail Time?
What kind of thinking is this justice committing, some kind of Cochran "OJ" slogan?
Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson---She is a Reagan-era appointment.
1. WorldNetDaily: Magistrate wants proof of Iraq involvement Magistrate Deborah A. Robinson, at a federal court hearing, asked lawyer Mike Johnston for the evidence that is the basis for a civil case filed last year ... www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=... [Found on Google, Yahoo!]
Hmm.
Seems to me the 3 branches of government have melded into one. They protect each other, and put on a raunchy show for entertainment value. The losers, are of course, we, the American citizens. I don't like the smell of this one bit. This is an outrage on every level. But, Pubs will do nothing. As usual. To squawk might interfere with their latte' break, manicure, hair braiding session, camera time, loofa bath or gazing at the mirror at themselves. God knows it's fun to wear a taxpayer provided tiara while having ones toenails clipped on 'company' time.
Too bad Berger wasn't in the 'tube' last week.
Harumph.............
I can't see Berger stealing docs to cover his own patootie. To cover Clintons? Yes...
Just in case somebody missed it, your post needs repeating
..............It's because the memo contained his notes in which he advised against trying to kill Osama. It made him, the National Security Advisor, look weak and stupid on the question of terrorism. And it allows the former Clinton Administration to preserve the myth they are carefully cultivating that they were tough on terrorists.......
What if Carl Rove had stolen top secret documents! Would the Rats be trying to send him away for life?
If Rove had taken the documents he'd be looking at a long jail sentence.
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