Report Says Berger Hid Archive Documents (Under Construction Trailer)

[RamboLiberal]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20061220/D8M4R7DO0.html

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.

<snip>

"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.

[whistle]

1. Do we know what was in those documents?

[TroglodyteScholar]

3. "...classified documents..." n/t

[displacedtexan]

4. Yes.

Those were docs written by Berger, which he needed to consult
before testifying, but the repukes wouldn't let him make copies.

And we all know what happens if your testimony is even one syllable off
from previous statements.

They were out to screw Berger, and he fell into their trap.

[whistle]

5. So, did Berger return them?

[jarab]

11. Uh, no. He's a thief and should be

locked away.

...O...

[earlybelle]

20. I believe the same documents are available in the Clinton Library.

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. Good question

It seems that Berger was doing a lot more then just sticking some old papers in his pockets that he forgot about. He did this on more then one occasion and did assorted things to cover up his acts. Since he was a National Security Adviser, it seems he's trying to cover up something and destroy the evidence. These visits were connected to his preparation for testifying to the 9-11 Commission. Something stinks here. Was he just trying to protect himself or someone else?

[KittyWampus]

14. How would he destroy evidence when all he had were copies?

[FormerDem06]

15. Because he didn't just have copies....

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20061221/D8M4TNQ80.html

snip
============================
Berger's lawyer, Lanny Breuer, said in a statement that the contents of all the documents exist today and were made available to the commission.

But Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., outgoing chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, said he's not convinced that the Archives can account for all the documents taken by Berger. Davis said working papers of National Security Council staff members are not inventoried by the Archives.

"There is absolutely no way to determine if Berger swiped any of these original documents. Consequently, there is no way to ever know if the 9/11 Commission received all required materials," Davis said.
============================

snip
============================
Inspector General Paul Brachfeld reported that National Archives employees spotted Berger bending down and fiddling with something white around his ankles.

The employees did not feel at the time there was enough information to confront someone of Berger's stature, the report said.

Later, when Berger was confronted by Archives officials about the missing documents, he lied by saying he did not take them, the report said.

=============================

[marshall]

17. I guess we'll never really know

I'm less concerned about Berger shlepping documents out and cutting them up with scissors than I am about the lost documents that he hid under the dumpster. The report suggests he took a break for the purpose of hiding them around the corner, but that when he later returned to retrieve them they were not there. Who got them? Were they thrown away with the trash when it was collected?

[DoBotherMe]

19. What are 'working papers'

Are they the papers that he created while he was reviewing the copies of the classified documents at the Archive? Or are they papers that were in the archival materials but not inventoried by the Archive? Is Rep. Davis setting up a strawman?

[earlybelle]

21. I believe the media is making more out of this than is necessary.

If he authored the documents, he was stupid for trying to steal them. He should have relied upon his memory and if he couldn't he should have coped the "I don't remember" pleas that all the Republicans use at hearings.

[karynnj]

22. Your missing the point - it would be wrong EVEN if they were things he authored

Turn it around. It's 2010, a Democrat is President and Condi Rice reviews documents from 2002 when she was national security person and takes several documents she wrote that in retrospect put the Bush administartion in a bad light. Would you say it was ok?

We need to be as tough on ourselves as on Republicans. No matter what was there - it should have stayed there.

[IndianaGreen]

23. I am also baffled by Berger's actions

I can only surmise that there was something very damaging in those files that involved Berger and/or the Clinton Administration.

What is even more baffling is that if there was some dirt there that would make Clinton look bad, why haven't the Republicans make that info public by now.

[theoldman]

2. This sounds very suspicious.

As a matter of fact is sounds phony.

[RamboLiberal]

6. If Berger admits to it how is it suspicious?

I'm not defending Berger on this one. He knows the rules.

[marshall]

7. He accidentally cut them up with a pair of scissors

He testified to that last year.

[Big_Mike]

24. This is so totally wrong. Fucking powerful assholes skating.

If a young lieutenant or mid-grade NCO took classified documents and hauled them out of storage and purportedly destroyed them or lost them, he'd be looking at 5 - 10 years behind bars, in a prison where his life would be in danger each and every day.

This POS political hack gets his pee-pee slapped and is not allowed access to classified materials for three years. Just because he FORMERLY held a high rank in the federal government. He should have been fined the $10K for EACH AND EVERY page he destroyed and/or "lost" that they could determine.

I cannot begin to express my utter contempt and just how I loathe and detest someone like this. Whether he has a "D" or an "R" behind the office in which he works does not matter one iota.

Berger should be in the jail cell next to Jonathan Pollard and John Walker, other traitors who mishandled classified documents.

[humbled_opinion]

8. He was wrong for taking them and he admitted guilt

why are we harping on this now anyway... Ahh thats right it is a GOP concerted effort to taint Clintons legacy i.e., to leave questionable doubts out there for the sucker base to bash him with 911 and bash her with whatever they can....

Obviously they haven't listened to their own Newt Gingrich when he says America is sick and tired of all this political gotcha and want the parties to work together to solve America's problems...

Anyway if the Democrats would grow a set and actually go after Bush and his cronies the scramble to cover their asses would expose so much scandal and maybe uncover some real truth.

[Vinca]

10. Finally . . . . FINALLY. Something the MSM can concentrate on

24/7 for the next 3 days. It's got all the right components: Clinton, Democrat, national secrets, conviction. The news readers must have had simultaneous orgasms when they read this tidbit.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

12. Where's the sex!?

Dash it all!! We can't have intelligent political reporting with sex!!

[cali]

16. I'd bet anything

this story disappears quickly.

[SoCalDem]

18. Don't count on it. I can foresee all of them grilling Pelosi & Reid

about it.. relentlessly..

What always amazes me is why Berger gave these freaks ANYTHING to salivate over. EVERYONE knew (knows) that republicans are always watching for democrats to screw up..even a little.. just so they can hang them up by their heels and use them as human piñatas and to help them cover up their own "scandals"..

[Javaman]

13. A freeper worthy thread...

This one should bring them out of the woodworks.

:popcorn: