Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Bergergate, Part I
Clinton National Security advisor Sandy Berger is under investigation for "disappearing" classified documents related to 9/11:
Sandy Berger, former President Clinton's national security adviser, is under criminal investigation by the Justice Department after highly classified terrorism documents disappeared while he was reviewing what should be turned over to the Sept. 11 commission.
Berger's home and office were searched earlier this year by FBI agents armed with warrants after the former Clinton adviser voluntarily returned some sensitive documents to the National Archives and admitted he also removed handwritten notes he had made while reviewing the sensitive documents.
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, officials and lawyers told The Associated Press.
...
Berger and his lawyer said Monday night he knowingly removed the handwritten notes by placing them in his jacket and pants, and also inadvertently took copies of actual classified documents in a leather portfolio.
I believe there are still a lot of questions to be answered, and we deserve a much better explanation than Sandy Berger has given. For now, I will note a point made by Hugh Hewitt: As you watch this story unfold over the next few weeks, imagine if Dr. Rice had been caught "stuffing her blouse" with and smuggling out highly classified information related to the 9/11 investigations. Do you think there might be a bit of skepticism and outrage in the press?
