Berger Investigation Stretches Into Second Year

NY Sun ^

[bikepacker67]

More than a year after President Clinton's top national security adviser, Samuel Berger, walked out of the National Archives with top-secret documents, a criminal investigation into the matter remains open with no sign of any imminent action.

Legal and national security experts say the delay may be an indication of how Mr. Berger's case has put the Justice Department in a tough political pickle. If prosecutors hit the former official with a criminal charge, Democrats will complain of a political vendetta. If Mr. Berger is let off with an administrative punishment, such as revocation of his security clearance, hard-liners will squawk about a double standard that overlooks classified information breaches committed by high-ranking officials.

[bikepacker67]

"Arguably, Berger has already been severely punished by being publicly humiliated and by having his participation in the Kerry campaign derailed," Mr. Aftergood said. "It could well be argued that justice has been served already and that no further expenditure of government resources is warranted."

What Bunk!

[Publius6961]

IS BERGER IN JAIL YET?

[Critical Bill]

C&F had the right slant on this guy:

[Publius6961]

Remember Nixon refused to prosecute Kerrey for treason when he had every reason and justification to? For "political" reasons?

B-i-i-i-i-i-i-g mistake!

[frithguild]

[bikepacker67]

Mr. diGenova, a Republican who once served as an independent counsel, said the government will have to cancel Mr. Berger's security clearance, if it has not already done so. However, he said that alone will not be sufficient to meet the standard the Justice Department applied to Mr. Deutch.

"It is, to me, not a complicated matter," the former prosecutor said. "The facts as publicly known make it very difficult for the department not to charge him with some offense. It doesn't have to be a felony."

Mr. diGenova said he is dubious of the explanation Mr. Berger has offered thus far. "I don't care how much of a bumbler he was. There's more to this story. I want to know what it is," the former prosecutor said.

He added that undue leniency towards Mr. Berger "will not sit well with troops who get suspended from duty and pay suspensions for mishandling classified documents."

Is there any way to apply Freeper pressure to this situation?

[leadpenny]

Berglar will have taken a long, long walk in Ft. Marcy Park
before we ever find out the truth.

[Popman]

If Berger was a GOP operative, he would be eating breakfast this morning with about 500 other guys in some prison.

[steplock]

I have a better idea ... HANG ALL TRAITORS! It will save the LEGAL citizen/taxpayer million$.

Berger should be #1 on that list!

[PGalt]

I yield my time to the FReeper from the great state of Kolleyfornia.

[backhoe]

Here's what we have:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1175187/posts
Yes, Down My Pants. Oh, Like You Haven't? The Sordid Sandburglar Story
various FR links | 07-20-04 | The Heavy Equipment Guy

[kassie]

Politics need to be thrown out. He broke the law and needs to be held accountable.

[wildcatf4f3]

Hear Hear! or Here Here! - I'm not sure which

[BluH2o]

This is a Washingtonian type solution ... perfected by the Clintonistas ... let enough time go by and the scandal, criminal or not, goes away. Remember the FBI files, or filegate? How about the emails implicating Al Gore in several nefarious fund raising schemes? Didn't think so ...

[Dalite]

"Arguably, Berger has already been severely punished by being publicly humiliated and by having his participation in the Kerry campaign derailed," Mr. Aftergood said. "It could well be argued that justice has been served already and that no further expenditure of government resources is warranted."

Would you like some launch codes with that order?

[shubi]

Is it true that Berger still has an active security clearance? He shouldn't. Once you leave your the government, it is cancelled.

In addition to this investigation, which must move forward and the documents he stole recovered. We also must find out what was in them that was so damaging to Kerry. Also, the investigation into security leaks to China should be started and Berger in the middle of it. My opinion, having worked in security, is that Berger is a Chinese agent.

[eeriegeno]

This is a Washingtonian type solution ... perfected by the Clintonistas ... let enough time go by and the scandal, criminal or not, goes away. Remember the FBI files, or filegate? How about the emails implicating Al Gore in several nefarious fund raising schemes? Didn't think so ...

I expected more from this Justice Department though. But, I guess it doesn't matter which political party controls Justice, the games continue....

I wonder if Mr Berger would still be under investigation if he walked into another Federal institution and walked off with some Federal Reserve Notes, green in color, possibly assisted by piece of hardware that is normally carried for personal protection?????

[kellynla]

ohhhhhhh pulllllezzzzzz
the fat clown committed burglary
even Don Knotts could figure that one out! LMAO

[cyncooper]

More than a year after President Clinton's top national security adviser, Samuel Berger, walked out of the National Archives with top-secret documents, a criminal investigation into the matter remains open with no sign of any imminent action.

I believe the FBI got involved last January. Yes, Berger's theft took place earlier. I think the phrasing above is deceitful, though, acting like the *investigation* has been going on for more than a year.

I am content to wait until the new Attorney General is sworn in. If we don't see some movement in the case after that, I'll be upset, too.

[26lemoncharlie]

When will this nan be brought to trial!!! He should be serving at least a few years for this offence and the loss of his security clearance.