I have a question: Why doesn't Berger call a press conference

[LittleApple81]

and explain his side of this stupid paper issue?
HE DID DO something STUPID. But they are dragging him, trying to drag Clinton, and KERRY of course through the mud. He committed the stupidity so he should have the right to SPEAK OUT. If so many rumors have come out, the secrecy of any "investigation" has been broken.

I am totally ignorant on the matter of law for something like this. Anybody here knows?

[shoelace414]

1. because it doesn't matter.

the "liberal press" will still report stuffing classified docs in his socks.

[LittleApple81]

4. I am totally FRUSTRATED. We are really totally Cheneyed. n/t

[ClassWarrior]

9. We are NOT CHENEYED.

It's stupid, petty GHP lie-mongering, and it will only go on as long as we let it go on. If you want it to go away, start writing letters to the editor and laughing it off with your friends - instead of posting doom and gloom here.

[LittleApple81]

12. Look, if I cannot express how I feel, then this is not a discussion

board. And I spend A LOT OF TIME writing letters. And we cannot be on the floor of the House to fight all the horrible things they are saying about Berger, Clinton, and Kerry because of this affair.

[ClassWarrior]

13. I didn't say don't express how you feel.

I said you should - we ALL should - channel those frustrations into action. And we don't need to be on the floor of the House to do it. Look at Michael Moore. He's doing it in your local suburban cineplex. Who'da thunk?? We just need to be creative. Rants are cathartic, true, but they shouldn't serve to discourage your fellow travellers. They should serve to motivate.

[ewagner]

2. I think he's being cautious

because anything he personally says publiclly could be used against him if charges are ever filled. Any misstatement could lead to a perjury charge which would be prosecuted just as much as anything else.

Keeping quiet minimizes the damage.

[Caution]

3. because he is ptotentially criminally liable

as much as we might like him to celar things up to minimize damage to the Kerry campaign, he has to think about himself and his family first.

While this was most likely an honest mistake, the US DOJ doesn't play around and anything he says at a press conference can and WILL be used against him. (Just look at what happened to Martha Stewart when she held a press conference to discuss her case).

[LittleApple81]

5. So the repugs KNOW he is between a rock and a hard place. That

is so horrible... I feel so sorry for him (and us). That humongous picture in the House this morning with arrows pointing to his clothing and his socks and the statements that went with it has crushed my heart for our country. I can imagine how he feels.

[ROC]

8. What he did wasn't just stupid

it was criminal. Anyone who has ever dealt with classified materials knows the rules. He apparently broke them blatantly. Fpr an academic researcher this would completely end access to reserch facitities.

[lancdem]

10. The FBI apparently doesn't think what he did was serious

Josh Marshall has a story from USA Today linked on his blog: http://talkingpointsmemo.com

The FBI hasn't even bothered to interview Berger. Seems kind of odd, doesn't it, if this was a big deal?

[readmylips]

6. No. Bad Idea....

His lawyer is a better speaker on TV. Sandy is not and sounds worse than bush.

[lancdem]

11. Yes, Lanny Breuer's done a fine job

[MissB]

The investigation is still going on

or at least it hasn't wrapped up yet. He'd be a fool to come out and say anything right now. I'm sure his lawyer has advised him to keep quiet.

[MissB]

7. The investigation is still going on

or at least it hasn't wrapped up yet. He'd be a fool to come out and say anything right now. I'm sure his lawyer has advised him to keep quiet.

[theboss]

14. Because he probably did break the law

Is it the greatest crime in the history of the Republic, as it is being made out to be? Of course not.

But from what I can gather, he likely did remove classified material illegally and then lost it. That's a really stupid thing and he could be charged.

Anyone facing criminal charges would be very smart to shut up. I mean, he could throw himself on his sword to help Kerry, but I don't even think Kerry would want that.

In a few weeks, this will blow over as a political issue but Berger will have to deal with it on a personal level for a while.