I thought the Berger fiasco was settled many months ago, with him getting a meager $10,000 fine. It was the Bush administration (John Ashcroft, at the time) whom I believe under-prosecuted this crime, and we were all outraged back then.
I think that was what they asked for in the original plea bargain. I guess the Judge upped the fine.
With all due respect, the media DID NOT DECIDE TO LET BERGER off. It was and is Bush's administration. All the media coverage in the world would not have changed what Bush's Justice department decided to do. It pains me to say this... Bush does not seem to be interested in punishing any former Klintoista. I wish I could explain the reasons, but for whatever reason, it has a bad smell around it and makes me mad as hell.