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Former National Security Adviser
What's that sticking out of your pants Sandy.....and your socks...
...but don't worry, stealing those classified documents was just an "accident" because he's sloppy
Sandy Berger was probed in 2004 for the removal of classified "code word" documents (the most secret national documents) from the National Archives that he was reviewing in preparation for testimony to the 9/11 Commission. Staff noticed documents missing and observed Berger sticking pieces of paper into his clothing.
Initially Berger told the public his taking, and destruction of some, of the classified documents was inadvertent/accidental. Bill Clinton, among others, came to Berger's defense saying he was just a messy person and they could see how he could accidentally put the papers in his briefcase.
Quote
"In the course of reviewing over several days thousands of pages of documents on behalf of the Clinton administration in connection with requests by the Sept. 11 commission, I inadvertently took a few documents from the Archives," Berger said.
"When I was informed by the Archives that there were documents missing, I immediately returned everything I had except for a few documents that I apparently had accidentally discarded."
"When I was informed by the Archives that there were documents missing, I immediately returned everything I had except for a few documents that I apparently had accidentally discarded."
Quote
"We were all laughing about it on the way over here," said Clinton, "People who don't know" Berger "might find it hard to believe" he'd make a mistake with classified materials. But "all of us who've been in his office have always found him buried beneath papers."
Yeah, really funny that your National Security adviser was sloppy with code-word documents.....
Not exactly a ringing endorsement for someone with national security clearance.
Sources:
Fox News
The Weekly Standard
CNN
Berger denied he put the documents in his pants and socks (saying he only put them in his suit jacket) but we later found out it was much worse. Instead of accidentally discarding some documents, as he said, he actually cut them up with scissors. He also didn't inadvertently put the papers in his briefcase and take them home, he purposely put them in his pocket and hid them under a construction trailer for later retrieval.
Quote
Berger took a break to go outside without an escort while it was dark. He had taken four documents in his pockets.
"He headed toward a construction area. ... Mr. Berger looked up and down the street, up into the windows of the Archives and the DOJ (Department of Justice), and did not see anyone," the interview notes said.
He then slid the documents under a construction trailer, according to the inspector general. Berger acknowledged that he later retrieved the documents from the construction area and returned with them to his office.
"He headed toward a construction area. ... Mr. Berger looked up and down the street, up into the windows of the Archives and the DOJ (Department of Justice), and did not see anyone," the interview notes said.
He then slid the documents under a construction trailer, according to the inspector general. Berger acknowledged that he later retrieved the documents from the construction area and returned with them to his office.
Oops!
Sources:
USA Today
Fox News
Cagle-MSNBC
What did Berger get for such a breach of national security? He got to plea guilty to a misdemeanor and was given a $50,000 fine, 100 hours of community service, two years probation and a three year loss of his national security clearance. Makes you feel good to know he'll be able to handle our nation's most guarded secrets again doesn't it?
He later surrendered his license to practice law but he didn't seem to mind too much.
Quote
"While I derived great satisfaction from years of practicing law, I have not done so for 15 years and do not envision returning to the profession
By voluntarily surrendering his license he avoided an investigation by the bar counsel into his handling of classified documents in 2003.
Sources:
Fox News
Washington Post
Questions still remain about whether there were other documents taken that weren't inventoried and when Berger is going to take the polygraph that was part of his plea deal.
Source:
Fox News
Too bad there wasn't as much public outrage over Berger's extremely light punishment as there was over Paris Hilton getting out of jail after only three days.
Additional Source:
Wikipedia
Political Party:
Democratic
Contact:
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