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Justice Dept.: Berger Shredding Wasn't Cover-up
NewsMax.com ^ | April 2, 2005 | Carl Limbacher

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.

Story Continues Below

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.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: berger; corruption; governmentcorruption; lol; sandyberger; suckers
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To: texasbluebell

Why indeed......


21 posted on 04/02/2005 2:50:25 PM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: 7.62 x 51mm
Sandy Burglar should be going to prison.

He and his pals are laughing because they know they're not going anywhere.


22 posted on 04/02/2005 2:52:02 PM PST by texasbluebell
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To: rightalien

Once again, Bush covers crap for the Clintonistas. He's an accomplice to their many crimes.


23 posted on 04/02/2005 2:52:42 PM PST by Lexington Green (Adapt - Improvise - Overcome)
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To: 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

Bush and his whole sleazy Big Stupid Government crowd can just bite me!

24 posted on 04/02/2005 2:53:38 PM PST by Hank Rearden (Never allow anyone who could only get a government job attempt to tell you how to run your life.)
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To: Annie03; Baby Bear; BJClinton; BlackbirdSST; BroncosFan; Capitalism2003; dAnconia; dcwusmc; ...
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here.
25 posted on 04/02/2005 2:54:56 PM PST by freepatriot32 (If you want to change goverment support the libertarian party www.lp.org)
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To: LRS
"Noel L.Hillman - Chief, Public Integrity "

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.

26 posted on 04/02/2005 2:55:02 PM PST by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: anniegetyourgun

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?


27 posted on 04/02/2005 2:55:36 PM PST by texasbluebell
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To: Diogenesis
"Noel L.Hillman - Chief, Public Integrity "

It's got that whole USSR stink to it, doesn't it? Just like "Homeland Security".

28 posted on 04/02/2005 2:56:13 PM PST by Hank Rearden (Never allow anyone who could only get a government job attempt to tell you how to run your life.)
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To: texasbluebell

Apparently so, since this so-called explanation is illogical.


29 posted on 04/02/2005 2:57:33 PM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: rightalien

"Noel Hillman, chief of the Justice Department's public integrity section".

Seems that integrity is what is missing here.


30 posted on 04/02/2005 2:57:54 PM PST by Eagles6 (Dig deeper, more ammo.)
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To: ClearCase_guy
Berger wasn't asked to explain why he destroyed three out of the five copies he had stolen.

I guess no one was curious about that point.


Wow. This is so amazing. It is so "Clintonesque".

If you destroy the evidence, then it is all speculation as to what you did, why you did it, and what may have been covered up.

Rose Law firm records, Etc...

Thing is, you can't really blame the Bush admin on this. Speculation does not win cases. Sure, we can prove he removed documents, but it would be very hard to prove anything other than stupidity. Hard to prove criminal intent if the docs are gone.
31 posted on 04/02/2005 2:57:59 PM PST by Paloma_55
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To: rightalien
They know the general public is dumb enough to believe this BS
32 posted on 04/02/2005 2:58:44 PM PST by paul51 (11 September 2001 - Never forget)
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To: rightalien
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."

Of course not. It was just an inadvertent oversight.
Business as usual in our nation’s capital.
33 posted on 04/02/2005 3:00:41 PM PST by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink.)
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To: anniegetyourgun

PREPOSTEROUS


34 posted on 04/02/2005 3:01:40 PM PST by Howlin
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To: rightalien

I AM NOT A CROOK!

35 posted on 04/02/2005 3:02:29 PM PST by JimVT (Oh, the days of the Kerry dancing, Oh, the ring of the piper's tune)
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To: rightalien

BULLSH!!!T


36 posted on 04/02/2005 3:03:16 PM PST by 4thInfVet (Howard Dean, where have you gone? Stay in the limelight!)
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To: rightalien

I am the Tooth Fairy. No, really, I am.


37 posted on 04/02/2005 3:04:05 PM PST by Bahbah (Something wicked this way comes)
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To: Lexington Green
Yes, and it is past time for good Americans to RISE UP and replaced their leaders, either that or just give in and agree to a fascist government.
38 posted on 04/02/2005 3:08:27 PM PST by brushcop
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To: Diogenesis
We will see how much "integrity" he has, since he is suppose to be investigating Hillery's campaign irregularities, and is the one that is being pressured to investigate Tom Delay, among other things. If he white washes Hillery, and socks it to Delay...
39 posted on 04/02/2005 3:08:36 PM PST by LRS
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To: rightalien

"that several were essentially the same"

"essentially"

That means they weren't "the same."


40 posted on 04/02/2005 3:10:26 PM PST by Shermy
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