Criminal probe of Berger seen as a serious matter

Washington Times ^ | 7/23/04 | Bill Sammon

[kattracks]

The criminal investigation of former National Security Adviser Samuel R. Berger, while dismissed as a laughing matter by former President Bill Clinton, is actually a serious case of national importance, said one law-enforcement specialist.
    "The negligent handling of national security information has become a very serious issue," said former federal prosecutor Joseph diGenova. "It's been a top priority item since the 1990s, when the Justice Department began vigorously enforcing what for many years had been a moribund statute."
    Mr. diGenova was referring to federal law that imposes a prison term of up to 10 years on those who mishandle classified information.
    The statute was violated by former CIA Director John Deutch, who took classified information home on laptop computers in 1996. But after his conviction, he was pardoned by Mr. Clinton, who once had appointed Mr. Deutch to a presidential panel on terrorism.
    This week, Mr. Clinton dismissed the criminal probe of Mr. Berger, whom he deputized to vet classified documents at the National Archives for use by the commission investigating the September 11 terrorist attacks. Mr. Berger is accused of removing archives documents on the Clinton administration's handling of terror network al Qaeda.
    "We were all laughing about it," Mr. Clinton said of the criminal probe.

[Kackikat]

IF there are no consequences for Berger, then expect all other government employees to feel free to tamper with items of National Security. WHAT is the message being sent for his crime?? TREASON, plain and simple and it must be dealt with, or we may as well declassify everything in Washington and our Military. NOONE will take any of our laws regarding this seriously again.

The "laptops" found in 1996, Clinton pardons him...UNREAL!

[Deb]

There's a bit of fun trivia...which American president pardoned his own CIA Director AND his own brother?

We were laughing about that on the way over. HAHAHAHA!!!

[GVnana]

he was pardoned by Mr. Clinton, who once had appointed Mr. Deutch to a presidential panel on terrorism.

Figures.

[Taxbilly]

Haven't you ever put something in your socks and forgot it was there? Everybody dose it, it's just about socks and the right to privacy.

[umgud]

Deutch was convicted. Was he sentenced prior to his pardon? His lapse certainly seems less egregeous than Berger's blatant stealing episodes.

[pilgrim]

Miss kat,

 

Do you think this will stay in the news.  Is the prosecutor, the one who went after Martha?

[Jenya]

Does Clinton take anything seriously? His marriage, his reputation his Presidential legacy? He thinks this Berger theft is laughable. That's rich. Typical DIMwit.

[endthematrix]

I was wondering when Johnny Deutch would get mentioned in all this. He didn't just take a disk and work at home. He unsecured emailed it through AOL and opened it at home. Hmmmm. Those ChiComs really got what they paid for!

[Quix]

THANKS.

[wasp69]

What a farce clinton was. He thinks this is laughable. Rest assured that if I mishandled cryptographic keying material, equipment, or publications, I would be prosecuted to my eyeballs.

[EGPWS]

while dismissed as a laughing matter by former President Bill Clinton,...

And to think some still long for the days of having a sociopath as POTUS again....

[EGPWS]

Does Clinton take anything seriously?

Yes.

The thing called Bill Clinton.