Sandy Berger being probed for taking classified documents

[qanda]

For those who never visit LBN, this story is breaking and I'm afraid it doesn't look very good. What a stupid thing for Berger to do!

WASHINGTON - President Clinton (news - web sites)'s national security adviser, Sandy Berger, is the focus of a criminal investigation after removing highly classified terrorism documents and handwritten notes 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 after he voluntarily returned documents to the National Archives. However, 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 made while reading classified anti-terror documents he reviewed at the 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.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040720/ap_on_re_us/sept__11_berger_probe

[Leilani]

1. Keith Olberman just reported this story!

What a dumb, dumb, thing to do!

[buycitgo]

3. gee, that's almost as bad as outing a CIA agent

who's working on WMD sting operations, isn't it?

wonder how many people Berger's actions got KILLED?

[qanda]

4. That's exactly why we don't need this diversion right now

We all know that Democrats are held to a higher standard. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[lancdem]

9. Unless he is actually charged, the story will die

and Plame will blow this out of the water in a couple of weeks.

[Leilani]

5. Not the point!

Using the other side s crimes, does not excuse this. If not criminal, it is terribly stupid.

Sandy Berger was National Security Advisor...he knew better.

[papau]

6. True - but nothing is going to happen - The AP is just a reprint machine

for todays Rove handout.

"The missing documents involve two or three draft versions of the report (meaning pencil Berger corrected drafts) as it was evolving and being refined by the Clinton administration, officials and lawyers say. The Archives is believed to have copies of some of the missing documents."

[lancdem]

8. I'm pretty sure nothing will happen as well

It was dumb, but if charges were being brought, that would be the story. This tells me there won't be charges, and this is a Rovian effort to embarrass the Dems.

[WFF]

2. You're right, it does not look good

And using the term "sloppiness" reminds me of the watergate burglers. (No implication, but that was the first thought that came to my mind)

[Joanne98]

7. He removed his hand written notes.

So fucking what. We're fighting The Bush CRIME Family remember. Shit happens. I just hope he doesn't apologize. I'm sick of that.

[Amaya]

10. Yeah, I saw that

What the hell is going on? Are there anymore details concerning this?

[CaTeacher]

11. This is bad.

My father just called me all upset about it. I hope this blows over quickly, but it was such a stupid stupid thing to do.

[Roon]

12. Memo to Hersh...

NOW!!!!!