us attorney who looked into sandy berger classified theft

by Alexandra Schulist 3 min read

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What was Berger's misdemeanor?

That's a misdemeanor that can bring a maximum sentence of a year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Where did Berger destroy the documents?

According to a statement released by the Justice Department on Friday, Berger took the documents to his office in Washington, where he destroyed three of the copies. Soon after he visited the Archives in October 2003, building officials discovered that documents were missing and, two days later, contacted Berger.

Why did Berger say he regretted it?

After his court appearance, Berger told reporters that he "excerised poor judgement" and "deeply regretted it." He said his motivation was to help himself and others prepare for their appearance before the commission probing the events surrounding the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

What is the maximum sentence for unauthorized removal and retention of classified material?

The charge of unauthorized removal and retention of classified material is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of a year in prison and up to a $100,000 fine.

Did Berger tell the Archives he had taken the documents?

Initially, Berger did not tell the Archives staff that he had taken the documents but later that night told Archives staff that he had "accidentally misfiled" two of them, according to the Justice Department. The next day, he returned to Archives staff the two remaining copies of the five documents he had taken during the September and October visits. Each of the five copies of the document was then given to the Sept. 11 commission.

Does Berger get jail time?

It's part of a plea agreement between Berger — who still claims he hasn't done anything criminally wrong — and the Justice Department so he doesn't get jail time.

Who cut up the materials and threw them away?

Robinson did not ask Berger why he cut up the materials and threw them away at the Washington office of his Stonebridge International consulting firm. Berger, accompanied by his wife, Susan, did not offer an explanation when he addressed reporters outside the federal courthouse following the hearing.

How did Sandy Berger die?

As luck would have it, before the FBI or Justice Department prosecutors could talk to him, Sandy Berger died on Dec. 1, 2015. The cause of death was listed as cancer. He was 70-years-old, said a statement by his consulting firm, the Albright Stonebridge Group. YouTube.

Why did Berger go to the National Archives?

The original reports said that Berger — during the infamous 9-11 Commission hearings — went to the National Archives supposedly to read some material from his time in the Clinton White House. News reporters stated that Berger allegedly shoved documents into his pockets, inside his pants, and even inside of his socks and walked out of the Archives building.

What did Berger advise Clinton?

In one of those emails, Berger advised Clinton to make Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political life “uneasy.”. In another email to Hillary Clinton he counseled her on how to deal with Netanyahu if he continued to balk ...

What is the goal of the Berger Clinton correspondence?

And the goal is clear: Two states living side by side in peace and security — a Jewish state of Israel, with true security for all Israelis; and a viable, independent Palestinian state with contiguous territory that ends the occupation that began in 1967, and realizes the potential of the Palestinian people. (Applause.)”

Who did Berger advise Hillary Clinton to put the screws to?

In yet another email just released, Berger again advises Hillary Clinton to put the screws to Netanyahu:

Who was Hillary Clinton's national security adviser?

According to a recently released Hillary Clinton email, Berger who served as national security adviser to President Bill Clinton, had been advising Hillary Clinton since her days as Secretary of State for President Barack Obama.

Where did Berger keep his documents?

According to the 2003 charges against Berger, he “knowingly removed classified documents from the National Archives… and he stored and retained such documents at places such as his private Washington, D.C. office.

What did DeHays steal?

DeHays also stole identification cards, personal letters, photographs, a bible, pieces of downed U.S. aircraft from the downed airmen files and Normandy Campaign field messages from World War II unit records.

How long was Les Waffen in prison?

McTague was sentenced to 15 months in prison and fined $3,000. Sixty-seven year old Les Waffen worked for forty years at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), much of the time in the Motion Picture, Sound, and Video Branch.

Why did Lowry change the date of the Murphy pardon?

Against National Archives regulations, Lowry brought a fountain pen into a National Archives research room where, using fade-proof, pigment-based ink, he altered the date of the Murphy pardon in order to change its historical significance.

How long was DeHays in jail?

On April 9, 2018, DeHays was sentenced to 364 days in prison and three years’ probation, eight months of which are to be served in home confinement, along with 100 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay $43,456.96 restitution to those who unknowingly purchased the stolen goods.

What was Charles Mount arrested for?

Fifty-nine year old Charles Mount, an art historian and portrait painter, was arrested in 1987 for stealing documents from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and Library of Congress. When Mount offered to sell a Boston bookstore owner a collection of Civil War documents, including three letters written by Abraham Lincoln, he became suspicious and contacted the FBI. Agents were waiting to arrest Mount when he delivered the documents. FBI officials later uncovered a safety deposit box belonging to Mount filled with other stolen documents. In 1989, Mount was charged with stealing 400 documents and sentenced to five years in prison. Mount died in 1995.

How long was Murphy in prison?

He also stole documents charged out by other researchers when they left the room for a break. The Murphy's were both sentenced to ten years in federal prison.

When did Lowry agree to be interviewed?

On January 12, 2011, Lowry agreed to be interviewed by an OIG agent and Mitch Yockelson and in the course of the interview, he admitted to altering the Murphy pardon to reflect the date of Lincoln’s assassination in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2071.

What was Berger's visit to the archives?

Berger's archives visit occurred as he was reviewing materials as a designated representative of the Clinton administration to the national commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The question of what Clinton knew and did about the emerging al Qaeda threat before leaving office in January 2001 was acutely sensitive, as suggested by Berger's determination to spend hours poring over the Clarke report before his testimony.

How many versions of the document did Berger destroy?

It remains unclear whether Berger knew that, or why he destroyed three versions of a document but left two other versions intact. Officials have said the five versions were largely similar, but contained slight variations as the after-action report moved around different agencies of the executive branch.

Why did Berger say he regretted it?

After his court appearance, Berger told reporters that he "excerised poor judgement" and "deeply regretted it." He said his motivation was to help himself and others prepare for their appearance before the commission probing the events surrounding the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

What was Berger's misdemeanor?

That's a misdemeanor that can bring a maximum sentence of a year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

What is the maximum sentence for unauthorized removal and retention of classified material?

The charge of unauthorized removal and retention of classified material is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of a year in prison and up to a $100,000 fine.

Did Berger take notes?

Berger and his lawyer said Monday night he knowingly removed the handwritten notes by placing them in his jacket, pants and socks, and also inadvertently took copies of actual classified documents in a leather portfolio.

Did Sandy Berger pled guilty to a misdemeanor?

But on Friday, Sandy Berger (search) pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in federal court. Berger, who served as President Clinton's national security adviser, is acknowledging that it wasn't an honest mistake and that he intentionally took and destroyed copies of classified documents from the National Archives (search) and cut them up with scissors.

Overview

Samuel Richard "Sandy" Berger (October 28, 1945 – December 2, 2015) was an attorney who served as the 18th United States National Security Advisor for President Bill Clinton from 1997 to 2001. Before that he served as the Deputy National Security Advisor for the Clinton Administration from 1993 to 1997.
In 2005, he was fined and sentenced to two years of probation plus communit…

Early life

Berger was born to a Jewish family in Millerton, New York, where his parents ran an Army-Navy store. He graduated from Webutuck High School in 1963, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in government from Cornell University in 1967, and his earned Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School in 1971.
At Cornell, Berger was a member of the Quill and Dagger society with Paul Wolfowitz and Stephen …

Clinton administration

Berger served as Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to Governor Clinton during the campaign, and as Assistant Transition Director for National Security of the 1992 Clinton-Gore Transition. Berger served eight years on the National Security Council staff, first from 1993 to 1997 as deputy national security advisor, under Anthony Lake, whom Berger had recommended for the role, and then succeedi…

Controversies

In November 1997, Berger paid a $23,000 civil penalty to settle conflict of interest allegations stemming from his failure to sell his stock of Amoco Corporation as ordered by the White House. Berger was advised by the White House to sell the stock in early 1994. He said he had planned to sell the stock, but then forgot. He denied knowingly participating in decisions in which he had a financial interest…

Post-government

After leaving the Clinton Administration, Berger became chairman of Stonebridge International, an international advisory firm he co-founded in 2001 which focused on aiding companies in their expansion into emerging markets such as Brazil, China, India, and Russia. Stonebridge International merged in 2009 with The Albright Group, a similar firm founded by former Secretary of State M…

Personal life and death

Berger lived in the American University Park neighborhood of Washington, D.C., was married to Susan Harrison Berger, and had three children.
Berger died of cancer in Washington, D.C., on December 2, 2015, at the age of 70, more than a year after being diagnosed.
President Barack Obama released the following statement on learning of Berger's death:

Awards

In November 2015, Berger was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun by the Japanese government for his contributions to promotion of a strong and friendly relationship between the United States and Japan, particularly in his role as National Security Adviser to President Clinton. He also provided legal and commercial advice to the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C.

See also

• History of the United States National Security Council 1993–present
• Iraq disarmament timeline 1990–2003
• Mary McCarthy (CIA)