Posted on 10/08/2007 5:12:57 AM PDT by Anti-Bubba182
Sandy Berger, who stole highly classified terrorism documents from the National Archives, destroyed them and lied to investigators, is now an adviser to presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Berger, who was fired from John Kerry´s presidential campaign when the scandal broke in 2004, has assumed a similar role in Clinton´s campaign, even though his security clearance has been suspended until September 2008. This is raising eyebrows even among Clinton´s admirers.
“It shows poor judgment and a lack of regard for Berger´s serious misdeeds,” said law professor Jonathan Adler of Case Western Reserve University, who nonetheless called Clinton “by far the most impressive candidate in the Democratic field.”
Adler told The Examiner that it is “simply incomprehensible to me that a serious contender for the presidency would rely upon him as a key foreign policy advisor.”
He added: “If Senator Clinton becomes the Democratic nominee, at some point she will begin to receive national security briefings that will include sensitive information. At such a point, continuing to keep Berger on board as a key advisor, where he might have access to sensitive material, would be beyond incomprehensible.”
The Clinton campaign declined to comment.
Berger has admitted stealing documents from the National Archives in advance of the 9/11 Commission hearings in 2003. The documents, written by White House counterterrorism czar Richard Clarke, were a “tough review” of the Clinton administration´s shortcomings in dealing with terrorism, Clarke´s lawyer told the Washington Post.
On several occasions, Berger stuffed highly classified documents into his pants and socks before spiriting them out of the Archives building in Washington, according to investigators. On one occasion, upon reaching the street, he hid documents under a construction trailer after checking the windows of the Archives and Justice Department buildings to make sure he was not being watched.
Berger came back later and retrieved the documents, taking them home and cutting them up with scissors. Two days later, he was informed by Archive employees that his removal of documents had been detected.
“Berger panicked because he realized he was caught,” said a report by the National Archives inspector general, which also recounted his initial reaction. “Berger lied.”
Berger also lied to the public, telling reporters he made an “honest mistake” by “inadvertently” taking the documents, which he blamed on his own “sloppiness.” Bill Clinton vouched for the explanation for Berger, who served as his national security adviser.
Berger later conceded: “I was giving a benign explanation for what was not benign.”
The Justice Department initially said Berger stole only copies of classified documents and not originals. But the House Government Reform Committee later revealed that an unsupervised Berger had been given access to classified files of original, uncopied, uninventoried documents on terrorism. Several Archives officials acknowledged that Berger could have stolen any number of items and they “would never know what, if any, original documents were missing.”
At his sentencing in September 2005, Berger was fined $50,000, placed on probation for two years and stripped of his security clearance for three years.
The title should read, “Should Have Been Disgraced”.
Even if Berger doesn’t get an appointment, his consulting business (remember trade with China?) will make major bucks off a new Clinton Administration. Is anyone else tired of the corruption which is Washington?
“I can only hope they are compiling a library of stuff to use once the campaigns get into full swing.”
I think you’ll be disappointed.
the funny comment was the one about where’s Lewinsky and is she coming back too
Their old Arkansas motto: CRIMINALS HELPING CRIMINALS.
Or: A CRIMINAL MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE.
Bush’s team members (Libby) gets thrown out of office over something they might have said or done and the issue becomes a national story for years.
Hillary’s team members gets selected for new positions of power and it “raises eyebrows” for outright violations of law.
I don’t think I can handle another Clinton era without suffering severe vertigo.
Not sure what was going on nationally but it did not make the news.
I wonder what enterprising candidate for president in the republican party will mention this in the presence of Chris Matthews tomorrow night.
“Why they let him off so lightly is a mystery to me.”
Republicans in Washington think they’re obligated to treat their political foes with dignity. I don’t know why, since their political foes obviously don’t deserve it, and will screw a Republican the first chance they get.
The Republicans should do the country a favor, and treat thieves and liars like thieves and liars. They have nothing to lose.
Hillary is right then. We need national health care.
That’s in the target zone...
Yep. I’ve been disappointed in them over and over again - so many times in the last few years. It’s like they’re playing dead.
Should be inetresting to see. Here is a link to the Newsweek article - way back on Sept 6
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20628439/site/newsweek/page/0/
Battle for the Best and Brightest
Behind the scenes, the Clinton and Obama camps are competing fiercely for foreign policy aides to the 42nd president.
By Michael Hirsh
Newsweek
Updated: 4:18 p.m. ET Sept 6, 2007
That ‘90’s Show is coming back.
Sandy Berger DESTROYED CLASSIFIED DOCS.....he SHOULD have been in PRISON!!! Our Justice Dept. is BROKEN.
being reported on Fox News now
What was that, that Bill said about Sandy after the story broke about him stealing national archive secrets?
Good Grief....Berger will see EVERYTHING ASAP!!
No, she's not.
The whole prosecution of Sandy Berger was a charade. Do you think it's just a coincidence that the suspension of his security clearance ends right before the 2008 election?
The Bush administration has been complicit in his crime.
Flies & maggots on sh!t.
This WILL be the Greates Show on Earth, when Evit finally hits her stride on this campaign. Bring in the clowns...!
Leni
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