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.
So exactly where in this complex and obviously intentional sequence did he forget he had 'em???
He absolutely is angling for a job in Hillary's administration. Why do you think he wants his security clearance back?
I'm with Rush. He said, it was more worrisome of what Berger 'put in the files than what he took out.'
"I'd almost have to assume that they are a legitamate news outlet."
This is the first evidence I've seen that they are legitimate.
Citizen arrest for treason.
bttt
Crimes with impunity…isn't that what we say about Pootie-Poot ?
How can these documents not be backed up somehow on microfiche or something.
They are going to let him get away with re-writing history and protecting Clinton.
Why didn't he go to jail for something this severe?
"Berger must know enough, to hang someone else. Politics, as usual!"
Fat Sandy Burglar is covered by the Clinton "J. Edgar Hoover"" insurance policy. "Honey, I knew those F.B.I. files would come in handy!"
"Mr. Berger said he placed the documents under a trailer in an accessible construction area outside Archives 1 (the main Archives building)."
Did he leave them there for someone? I don't see any reason why he wouldn't just take the documents home with him.
Finger prints are ALL OVER any documents (that POS) Sandy touched...!
Well, so much for the "I don't recall, it must have been an accident" defense!
Bastard should be in jail - BIG TIME!
Berger supposedly took copies of a memo from Clarke in which Berger wrote "No" to a proposal that bin Laden be killed.
The Sandy Burgler was guilty as sin and knew EXACTLY what he was doing. I would suggest the chair but that is more expensive than a firing squad (unless the shooters are union).
He ought to be able to get his Top Secret clearance back pretty soon now.
"Not only is he walking free...but he was included in on the ISG!!!!"
He was also on a previous committee that reviewed planning for the Iraq war. I kid you not.
Under a Republican DoJ. That concerns me a great deal
Thanks for the post. Berger should be fried. He's not even grilled. What a POS.
Didn't Berger take part in some, high-profile discussions on Iraq strategy while the Baker-Hamilton group was formulating their own, possible scenarios? And wouldn't he have been privy to classified material before his 3-year ban had been served?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.