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Home Front: Politix

Berger Case Still Roils Archives, Justice Dept

2007-02-21

Hat tip: Lucianne

In a chandeliered room at the Justice Department, the longtime head of the counterespionage section, the chief of the public integrity unit, a deputy assistant attorney general, some trial lawyers and a few FBI agents all looked down at their pant legs and socks. While waving his own leg in the air in illustration, Paul Brachfeld, inspector general of the National Archives and Records Administration, asked the group rhetorically if "something white" could be easily mistaken if it was wrapped around their legs, beneath their pant legs.

Berger's visits were so badly mishandled that Archives officials had acknowledged not knowing if he removed anything else and destroyed it.

Under debate during the Nov. 23, 2004, meeting was Brachfeld's contention that President Clinton's former national security adviser Samuel R. "Sandy" Berger could have stolen original, uncatalogued, highly classified terrorism documents 14 months earlier by wrapping them around his socks and beneath his pants, as National Archives staff member John Laster reported witnessing. Brachfeld said he was worried that during four visits in 2002 and 2003, Berger had the opportunity to remove more than the five documents he admitted taking. Brachfeld wanted the Justice Department to notify officials of the 9/11 Commission that Berger's actions -- in combination with a bungled Archives response -- might have obstructed the commission's review of Clinton's terrorism policies.

Posted by:ryuge

#7 BURGER KING Stackers???
Exactly.

Posted by: Shipman 2007-02-21 23:52

#6 BURGER KING Stackers???

Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-02-21 20:20

#5 With all the faux scandals and brouhahas we have seen, almost non-stop, since Dubya decided to wage war, it just boggles the (already very boggled) mind that this actual (and unbelievably crude and outrageous) scandal has received .... just about zero attention.

Just imagine, for one second - if something even 1/10 as outrageous had actually been done by anyone connected with the administration. There probably wouldn't be room in the NYT and WaPo for sports or weather reports, so non-stop and voluminous would be the "coverage".

There are times (actually most of the time, now) when one really has trouble believing things are the way they are, and that one is not dreaming.

Posted by: Verlaine 2007-02-21 11:59

#4 I'm sure Wen Ho Lee* wasn't reached for comment on the mishandling of classified documents.

*Lee was arrested in December 1999 and held without bail in solitary confinement for 278 days. Sandy Berger was the Deputy National Security Adviser at the time.

Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-02-21 11:51

#3 "That's Sandy for youwe were all laughing about it on the way over here."
Bill Clinton
(Responding to a reporters question regarding the Berger vapor-scandal.)

Posted by: DepotGuy 2007-02-21 11:34

#2 Any proof he destroyed these documents?
Being a Clintonista, he knows the power of blackmail. They could come in handy if maybe he needs a favor from Hillary or Bubba somewhere down the road and...ooooooops! Look what I found!

Posted by: tu3031 2007-02-21 10:27

#1 Awww, Poor Sandy, he made a mistake!

Boo-hoo!

Give me a break.

Posted by: mojo 2007-02-21 10:20

00:00