AP: Clinton Adviser Probed in Terror Memos [Sandy Berger is the focus of a criminal investigation]

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[Sub-Driver]

AP: Clinton Adviser Probed in Terror Memos

3 minutes ago Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo!

By JOHN SOLOMON

WASHINGTON - President Clinton (news - web sites)'s national security adviser, Sandy Berger, is the focus of a criminal investigation after admitting he removed highly classified terrorism documents from a secure reading room during preparations for the Sept. 11 commission hearings, The Associated Press has learned.

Berger's home and office were searched earlier this year by FBI (news - web sites) agents armed with warrants. Some drafts of a sensitive after-action report on the Clinton administration's handling of al-Qaida terror threats during the December 1999 millennium celebration are still missing.

Berger and his lawyer said Monday night he knowingly removed handwritten notes he had taken from classified anti-terror documents he reviewed at the National Archives by sticking them in his jacket and pants. He also inadvertently took copies of actual classified documents in a leather portfolio, they said.

"I deeply regret the sloppiness involved, but I had no intention of withholding documents from the commission, and to the contrary, to my knowledge, every document requested by the commission from the Clinton administration was produced," Berger said in a statement to the AP.

Berger served as Clinton's national security adviser for all of the president's second term and most recently has been informally advising Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites). Clinton asked Berger last year to review and select the administration documents that would be turned over to the commission.

The FBI searched Berger's home and office with warrants earlier this year after employees of the National Archives told agents they believed they witnessed Berger put documents into his clothing while reviewing sensitive Clinton administration papers, officials said.

When asked, Berger said he returned some of the classified documents, which he found in his office, and all of the handwritten notes he had taken from the secure room, but said he could not locate two or three copies of the highly classified millennium terror report.

[ArmyBratproud]

Might be a wise idea for Sandy not to go take any chartered flights any time soon...

[Howlin]

Well, you have a point there....they don't live together!!!

[mewzilla]

So who are Berger's lawyers, anyone heard?

[jimbo123]

When Clinton testified behind closed doors to the 9-11 commission, guess who was also with him?

1. Bruce Lindsey
2. Sandy Berger

[bwteim]

Yes - "Deutch was pardoned by Clinton just hours before Clinton left office"

[barker]

"...by sticking them in his jacket and pants."

With the Clinton crowd notice how everything has to do with their pants or their pants coming dowm.

[SandRat]

Does this remind you of that story about a port-a-john bowing up and spewing the contents everywhere?

[tobyhill]

It's Bush's fault!

[rhombus]

The leak of the info was intentional and was done for this timing, whatever it is-the Dem convention or the commission's report.

Shock and awe comes in many forms.

[eleven_eleven]

if berger is a pig he is soon gonna be happy as a pig in siht. this is a career boost for him. plus every hollywood lovely will now bang him for sure. this is good for him, not bad for him. fact and reality no longer matter.

[fhayek]

You see, they with them its a policy of Mutually Assured Destruction. They each have the goods on each other. Its what makes their marriage work.

[A Citizen Reporter]

Sure he did and Kerry did too, the minute that the FBI searched Berger's house.

[MJY1288]

I will guarantee you that Clinton was asked about this by the 9/11 commission when he testified to them, The story says Berger took these documents a few months back, that would obviously be before his testimony, because that's why Clinton sent him there.

Clinton advises Berger to look over the documents and while he is, he steals them....... CONSPIRACY?

[windchime]

I checked their web page and it isn't there yet.

[Graymatter]

Too bad it doesn't headline...

"FBI INVESTIGATES KERRY ADVISER"

Or is he still advising Clinton? No. He is now a Kerry adviser.

[snooker]

You don't just willy-nilly copy these level of documents.

My guess is the security audit mechanism tripped him up. I dealt with this level stuff many years ago. With these level of docs, you don't move a piece of paper without a log and security audits are routine over time. A routine security audit likely tripped the alarm at the FBI.

Have to have been pretty damaging stuff to risk this exposure. This is not trivial.

[Howlin]

I'd bet my house one of them is John Coale and somebody really big from K Street.

Kendall?


My guess: Justin Thornton

[Petronski]

Here's a juicy thought from the DUmpster:

he has left himself wide open for whatever happens next. he should have been more careful if he had to steal documents to cover for Clinton

[okie01]

I wonder if they're pals.

Wouldn't surprise, would it.

I wonder just how serious these charges are. Were I prosecuting, I'd be tempted to offer a plea bargain -- in exchange for state's evidence...