Posted on 04/02/2005 2:27:50 PM PST by rightalien
Former national security advisor Sandy Berger wasn't trying to conceal information when he stuffed five copies of a top secret terrorism report in his pants and socks during two trips to the National Archives in 2003 - before taking the documents home and cutting three of the copies "into small pieces."
That was the claim yestderday of Noel Hillman, chief of the Justice Department's public integrity section, as he tried to explain to Washington, D.C. Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson why Berger should be let off the hook with a minor fine and no jailtime.
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Berger "did not have an intent to hide any of the content of the documents," Hillman insisted with a straight face. Instead, he explained, department lawyers concluded that Berger took the documents merely for personal convenience - to prepare for his and President Clinton's testimony before the Sept. 11 Commission - and not to hide any embarrassing evidence, the Washington Post said Saturday.
A report in Friday's New York Times, however, cast substantial doubt on that conclusion.
"In comparing the versions [of the stolen documents] at his office later that day, [Berger] realized that several were essentially the same, and he cut three copies into small pieces," the paper reported, sourcing a Berger "associate."
Aware of the problem, prosecutor Hillman told the judge that the top Clinton official only had copies of the documents - not the originals - and so he was not charged with the more serious crime of destroying documents.
Still, questions remain about whether the copies Berger destroyed had original handwritten notes in the margins - possibly written by other Clinton officials who had reviewed the material when it was first written.
In a brief statement outside the federal courthouse yesterday, Berger said, "I exercised very poor judgment in the course of reviewing documents at the National Archives. I deeply regret it."
But he insisted that his only motivation was to adequately prepare himself and "others" to answer questions from 9/11 probers.
Berger wasn't asked to explain why he destroyed three out of the five copies he had stolen.
Why indeed......
He and his pals are laughing because they know they're not going anywhere.
Once again, Bush covers crap for the Clintonistas. He's an accomplice to their many crimes.
That was the claim yestderday of Noel Hillman, chief of the Justice Department's public integrity section
Bush and his whole sleazy Big Stupid Government crowd can just bite me!
Ha hahahahaha hahahah ROTFLOL hahahahahahahaha
Ha hahahahaha hahahah ROTFLOL hahahahahahahaha
Ha hahahahaha hahahah ROTFLOL hahahahahahahaha
Ha hahahahaha hahahah ROTFLOL hahahahahahahaha
Ha hahahahaha hahahah ROTFLOL hahahahahahahaha
Nope, its not funny. It is an affront to America.
There is NO integrity here.
So we are led to believe that he took 5 copies of the same document, and he kept 2 of them, then cut up the other 3.
Even if he did need 2 copies for the testimony, why did he destroy the other 3?
No, no cover-up here.
These people. Do they think we're all so bloody stupid?
It's got that whole USSR stink to it, doesn't it? Just like "Homeland Security".
Apparently so, since this so-called explanation is illogical.
"Noel Hillman, chief of the Justice Department's public integrity section".
Seems that integrity is what is missing here.
Sandy Berger wasn't trying to conceal information when he stuffed five copies of a top secret terrorism report in his pants and socks during two trips to the National Archives in 2003 - before taking the documents home and cutting three of the copies "into small pieces."
I AM NOT A CROOK!
BULLSH!!!T
I am the Tooth Fairy. No, really, I am.
"that several were essentially the same"
"essentially"
That means they weren't "the same."
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