Sandy Berger Speaks

Power Line ^ | 3/16/07 | John Hinderaker

[conservative in nyc]

Sandy Berger sent an email to Michael Barone, responding to Michael's column in U.S. News. As we have written extensively on the Berger affair and have been harshly critical of Berger, it seems only fair to reproduce Berger's email in full, as it constitutes his response to his critics. Here it is:

Michael: I screwed up. There was nothing sinister about it. I was under serious pressure to digest the entire Clinton record on terrorism for eight years so that we could testify fully to the 9-11 commission. I spent several arduous days at the Archives looking through the files. This document was interesting to me because I had commissioned it in 2000–a look at what we learned from the millennium terror threats that were avoided. Tired, stressed, I made a very stupid decision–to take the documents home with me so that I could review them in more detail and so that I could compare the apparent differences among versions. Since this document had been widely circulated to all the relevant agencies (State, Defense, CIA, Justice, etc.), I felt certain the commission would get it from one or more of these agencies.

There were no handwritten markings on the documents (which were copies) or anything else unusual. I took no other documents–originals or copies–besides the ones specified in my plea agreement.

The DOJ has stated unequivocally that there is no evidence that I took other documents and that the commission received everything.

That's the long and short of it. I made a very stupid mistake. I deeply regret it. Top-level career Justice Department prosecutors investigated it aggressively for two years. We reached a plea agreement that they believed was fair. That was two years ago. Now I wish this thing would go away.

Best, Sandy

I don't buy it. Berger didn't make an impulsive decision--"tired, stressed"--to smuggle documents out of the National Archives. He stole documents on multiple occasions. On one occasion, he sneaked them out of the archives, went to a nearby construction site and hid the documents under a construction trailer, so he could come back later and pick them up. I simply don't believe that Berger engaged in this kind of cloak and dagger behavior just because he found the documents "interesting" and wanted to study them at home.

Most of all, I don't see how Berger's explanation can be reconciled with his own admission that he didn't just take the documents home; he cut some of them to pieces with a pair of scissors. Why did he destroy the documents if he wasn't trying to prevent them from coming to light?

Nor am I impressed by Berger's claim that the Department of Justice "has stated unequivocally that there is no evidence that I took other documents and that the commission received everything." There is no evidence as to what documents Berger took because the Archives staff let him walk off with them and didn't try to monitor what he was doing until it was too late. That being the case, the only evidence as to what documents were taken is Berger's own confession.

[FreeAtlanta]

I don't think he ever took the required lie detector test. Being "stupid" should result in his permanent banning of top secret classification and some jail time for mishanling classified documents.

All Libby did was have a faulty memory. And, this clown, Burger, got away with basic treason.

[saveliberty]

More on Sandy Berger's pants. LOL Why won't we stop talking about it?

Read John Hinderaker's summary

[saveliberty]

Tom Maguire posted the best sentencing idea yet on Just One Minute

http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/2007/02/open_thread_fri.html

[AD from SpringBay]

Let a simple citizen of this republic make the same simple, 'stupid', mistake and he or she will not again see the free light of day. Sandy Berger is a Clinton criminal and should have been locked up for years. But the Washintonian elites circled their wagons for him - for some reason we may never know. This pos is even going to be eligible to receive top secret clearance in the future. There was never supposed to be a double standard in application of the law. Something terrible has happened.

[Bahbah]

Morning, save.

I saw this earlier. John seems unpersuaded :)

I think I can't get over this because being able to make fun of Berger stuffing his pants full of documents, mocking him, assuages some of my anger that he was essentially allowed to get away with this.

[Lancey Howard]

Good post. Yes, Berger is certainly lying through his teeth. Surprise, surprise.

[saveliberty]

Top o' the morning to you, Bahbah! Happy St. Patrick's Day.

I agree with John Hinderaker that Berger's excuse is unconvincing and unsatisfactory-- he took the same document three times, some documents weren't catalogued until the staff started suspecting something. And John had posted the investigation which chronicled the suspicious activity.

The most laughable part is that he whines that he wants this to go away. But you know, he hasn't paid the fine yet, has he?

I do like Tom Maguire's solution, linked above

[roses of sharon]

So with Berger, the Prosecutor used discretion?

Why not with Libby?

Here's why not:

ABCCBSNBCMSNBCDNCNPRCSPANNEWSWEEKTIMENYTWPHOLLYWOODCNN....

[saveliberty]

Berger has teeth? Who knew?

[rodguy911]

Typical Clintonista who actually believes he never has to say he is sorry! They lie, steal and cheat with impunity and when they get caught it's always someone else's fault or we are making to big a deal over it!!
But let Scooter speak out of turn,fall for a perjury trap, let GW,say the wrong anything, Cheney any of us and it's WWIII.
Fry his ass and now!!

[greyfoxx39]

Top-level career Justice Department prosecutors investigated it aggressively for two years. We reached a plea agreement that they believed was fair.

Wonder just WHO these top-level career JD prosecutors were???? Are they some of the infamous ones fired? If not, why not?

[Suzy Quzy]

The Burglar went to the Archives over TWO MONTHS!! Oh yeah....stress and pressure because if he didn't get those documnets and DESTROY him, the Clintons would have him ARKANCIDED or RUINED him finaancially someway....and he KNEW that.

[swampmonster]

We are a bunch of chumps, didn't you know this? That's how the history books will portray us.

[aShepard]

........"And one of the lead investigators from DOJ ends up with a cushy job at Burglar's company. Nothing odd about that!"................

Ya know, you're right!

Maybe Cold Case, or some other TV show, could do an expose' on the aftermath of the Sandy Burgler fiasco.

Maybe even the pubbies could grow a set themselves, and do a follow-on investigation to this cover-up!

[Suzy Quzy]

I am so disgusted with our Broken Judicial System. It covers up for Democrats and ruins any Republicans....it is not a fair and equal system anymore.

[KATIE-O]

Stuffing stolen government documents down your pants, cutting them up, hiding them under a trailer is not a m
istake.


This guy is a pitiful excuse for a human being who is willing to take the rap for his dear and glorious boss, Slick Willy Bubba. He's the typical Clinton loyalist, not overly bright, a follower who will do anything for Bill and Hill's "cause." Pity this loser.

[MinuteGal]

"The DOJ is letting Burger slide" (re: lie detector test).

Wow, I'm shocked....I tell you I'm really shocked.

This is only one of the multitudes of reasons I daintily loathe Attorney General Rip Van Gonzales, one of the top two worst AG's in history.

I'm with the DemoRats on this one. I wish he'd resign. He gave passes to Burglar and numerous traitors, leakers, MSM crooks, and won't enforce the laws on the illegals invasion of our country.

In this case, I don't care a whit if it's a little victory for the Dems if Rip Van Gonzales resigns. The Dems are consistently getting so many victories from the Administration every week what the hell difference does one more make?

The President and the AG don't seem to be putting the Constitution before friendship.......or caring for the security of us suckers. So why should I care if the deliberatively heedless, spineless Gonzales vamooses into Janet Reno oblivion?

Leni

[Toespi]

Darn, when I saw the headline I thought he was going to announce his run for the oval office.

[Night Hides Not]

I was under serious pressure to digest the entire Clinton record on terrorism for eight years so that we could testify fully to the 9-11 commission.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!

The "entire Clinton record on terrorism" can be "digested" in about five seconds. C'mon Sandy, stop it...you're killing me!!!

[Mannaggia l'America]

The DOJ has stated unequivocally that there is no evidence that I took other documents

This is standard operating procedure for Democrat lie explanations...

Whenever you see the "there is no evidence that" phrase, it means "I'm lying, but you can't prove it".