Posted on 12/20/2006 2:12:49 PM PST by Mr. Mojo
Former national security adviser Sandy Berger removed classified documents from the National Archives in 2003 and hid them under a construction trailer, the Archives inspector general reported Wednesday. The report was issued more than a year after Berger pleaded guilty and received a criminal sentence for removal of the documents.
Inspector General Paul Brachfeld reported that when Berger was confronted by Archives officials about the missing documents, he said it was possible he threw them in his office trash.
The report said that when Archives employees first suspected that Berger _ who had been President Clinton's national security adviser _ was removing classified documents from the Archives in the fall of they failed to notify any law enforcement agency.
Berger, who pleaded guilty to unlawfully removing and retaining classified documents, was fined $50,000, ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and was barred from access to classified material for three years.
The report said that when Berger was reviewing the classified documents in the Archives building a few blocks from the Capitol, employees saw him bending down and fiddling with something white, which could have been paper, around his ankle.
However, Archives employees did not feel at the time there was enough information to confront someone of Berger's stature, the report said.
Brachfeld reported that on one visit, Berger took a break to go outside without an escort.
"In total, during this visit, he removed four documents ... .
"Mr. Berger said he placed the documents under a trailer in an accessible construction area outside Archives 1 (the main Archives building)."
Berger acknowledged that he later retrieved the documents from the construction area and returned with them to his office.
Berger, with the authorization of former President Clinton, was reviewing National Security Council documents on Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida, Sudan, and related presidential correspondence. The review was to facilitate Berger's impending testimony before the House and Senate intelligence committees.
Nice timing.
I'm glad I'll be reading FR next week!
bump
And because of that, what's in the NA from the Toon admin is now worthless.
WTF?..This man is walking free???
Destined to be a star in Hilary's administration.
Yup. And he could get his clearance back.
was barred from access to classified material for three years
Three years. Then the Hambergler can once again access and steal classified information again.
Remember when we used to execute people for this sort of behavior?
PING
That's okay. After that TV show on ABC recently, we know what was in the documents. It was obvious damning evidence against the Clinton Administration, and their total failure to capture Osama bin Laden and prevent 9-11.
What's gotten into the AP? I'd almost have to assume that they are a legitamate news outlet.
Not only is he walking free...but he was included in on the ISG!!!!
Where's Fitzgerald when you need him?
L
So sayeth the Burgler. OTOH, he may have been trying to remove the evidence.
He will probably get his clearance back in time to be in Hillary's Cabinet.
Phooey!
This is after he hid the documents down his pants.
Republicans cannot get it. If Sandy Berger were a republican, he would be mentioned EVERY time a dem is interviewed. But the republicans will act like they are embarrassed to bring this up.
Hey, after all, those documents only relate to terrorism and the security of our citizens. And his behavior was only disgusting and obviously aimed at a cover up that can make us less safe. Let's give him a pass.
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