This light sentence is decidedly in Berger's favor...so the *delay* in imposing it is BAD NEWS for Berger.
Whatever the reason (e.g. lack of cooperation), Berger's future just darkened even more.
Posted on 07/13/2005 5:04:59 PM PDT by SueRae
Sandy Berger's Sentencing Postponed
Sentencing for former Clinton National Security Advisor Sandy Berger, who pled guilty in April to stealing and destroying top secret terrorism documents from the National Archives, has been delayed, NewsMax.com has learned.
Asked why Berger wasn't sentenced as scheduled on Friday, July 8, a Justice Department spokesman told NewsMax on Tuesday that Berger's sentencing has been postponed till September.
Story Continues Below
The spokesman declined to offer an explanation for the delay. Repeated calls asking about the postponement to Berger's lawyer, Washington, D.C. attorney Lanny Breuer, went unreturned.
Federal District Court's U.S. Magistrate Deborah Robinson, who is presiding over the Berger case, also did not return a call inquiring about its disposition.
After Justice Department prosecutor Noel Hillman allowed Berger to plead guilty to a misdemeanor, he requested what some consider an extraordinarily light sentence given the gravity of the crime - a $10,000 fine, a three-year suspension of Berger security clearance and no jail time.
The recommendation for leniency was in stark contrast to the comments of Deputy Attorney General James Comey, who suggested after the document theft story broke that Berger could be headed to jail.
"We take issues of classified information very, very seriously," Comey told reporters, before adding, "All felonies in the federal system bring with them the promise of jail time, that's all I can say about that."
Prosecutor Hillman's recommendation would still have to be approved by Magistrate Robinson, a prospect that is expected but not assured.
Under Justice Department guidelines, Berger's misdemeanor plea could still yield a $100,000 fine and a year in prison.
Since the announcement of Berger's light sentence, several online petitions have sprung up, urging Magistrate Robinson to impose a stiffer penalty.
It's not clear whether the delay in Berger's sentencing has anything to do with a reluctance on Robinson's part to accept Hillman's recommendation.
Maybe this should be sent to the MSM so they can report on this. LOL
I feel positive that David Gregory would like to be the first to report on Sandy Berger. Hah!
Just kicking the can further down the road in the hopes that the people dont start wondering why Martha Stewart got time and Berger wont..
Does anyone wonder why Clintoon operatives always skate?
ping!
I would love to see this judge impose a REAL sentence on this loser. It would go a long way in my mind that justice is equal. I'm not holding my breath, though.
p.s. Reagan was my favorite, too. I see "W" has lifted more than a few pages from Ronnie's playbook :-)
Disgusting abrogation of judicial discretion, if this sentence is true .. keep the name of that judge active here -- that person needs to hear from US!
Before his security clearance is suspended, Berger has to destroy documents linking Willie to Iraqi oil vouchers money and OBL in three other federal offices. All the Willie plants still on the federal payroll because W refuses to purge them have checked in and three stashes of smoking gun documents have been reported. Sandy's the go to guy for document theft/destruction! Thus, the delay!
Thanks for the ping...I've been waiting for an update on this......MO1...here's some news..
Maybe Berger tried to weasel out on his end of the deal...
The sock stuffer will get off scott free as most anticipated. And noone will bring up any of his less then profesioanl work while being resonsible ultimately for what had happend at San Dia National Laboratory with the Chinese doctor plant etc..
He shall like many others walk free.
< NY Times mode = ON > BUT WHAT ABOUT KARL ROVE??!?!?? < / NY Times >
He should be sitting in the cell next to Pollard.
But what the hell, Carter and Clinton are still walking around free...
Not before ole' pucker puss, Terry Moran has a chance to report on it. /sarcasm!
This light sentence is decidedly in Berger's favor...so the *delay* in imposing it is BAD NEWS for Berger.
Whatever the reason (e.g. lack of cooperation), Berger's future just darkened even more.
Probably the FBI files.
Whatever happened to the Federal sentencing guidelines that Federal judges must follow?
Bet Sandy's not laughing now....
Why do we not know WHY Sandy Berger destroyed the documents??? According to what has been reported, the documents Berger stole were 'only copies'.
Why would someone steal and destroy documents that were copies. There is more to this story. I know the standard explanations.
Now Berger gets a delay. What the hell is going on? Why can't the right-wing reporters find out? This is a story involving high-level corruption and the war on terror. There must be a lid on this story from both the Clinton and Bush admins.
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