Judge Fines Berger $50,000

[kbr80]

Judge Fines Berger $50,000

Thursday, September 08, 2005

WASHINGTON — A judge on Thursday ordered Sandy Berger (search), President Clinton's national security adviser, to pay a $50,000 fine for illegally taking classified documents from the National Archives (search).

The punishment handed down by U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson (search) exceeded the $10,000 fine recommended by government lawyers. Under the deal, Berger avoids prison time but he must surrender access to classified government materials for three years.

"The court finds the fine is inadequate because it doesn't reflect the seriousness of the offense," Robinson said, as a grim-faced Berger stood silently.

Earlier in the hearing, Berger expressed remorse for his crime, which he described as a lapse of judgment that came while he was preparing to testify before the Sept. 11 commission.

"I let considerations of personal convenience override clear rules of handling classified material," Berger said. "I believe this lapse, serious as it is, does not reflect the character of myself."

"In this case, I failed. I will not again," he said.

The sentencing capped a bizarre sequence of events in which Berger admitted to sneaking classified documents out of the Archives in his suit, later destroying some of them in his office and then lying about it.

After initially saying it was an "honest mistake," Berger pleaded guilty in April to a misdemeanor of unauthorized removal and retention of classified material, which contained information relating to terror threats in the United States during the 2000 millennium celebration.


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168828,00.html

 

[rick_reno]

$50k means nothing to these people - jail time would have been better.

 

[Henry Bowman]

I agree. Should have been a felony and he should never have access to classified docs again.

 

[Brett Bellmore]

Only three years? What a joke, it should have been for life; That wasn't any accident, it was a calculated violation of national security laws, and anybody who'd give that man a security clearance again is an idiot.

 

[longeyes]

a mere peccadillo, my boy

And we wonder why the non-privileged are cynical about the law...?

The former head of National Security violating national security? Stealing classified documents? For "personal convenience," whatever that means? And he gets a FINE? What kind of a message does that send?

 

[LoneStranger]

What should happen is that everyone should question his participation in any policy or rulemaking. The man admitted that he did not KNOW that what he was doing was a violation of the rules. He had forgot!

If he was not able to remember that which he learned about handling that type of material when he was National Security Advisor, How can we trust him to handle any other type of information in the future?

What do I expect from the GOP Conservatives? Bootlicking, a**kissing, and crying about how Law and Orderly they are.

 

[Flyboy]

The man admitted that he did not KNOW that what he was doing was a violation of the rules.

Here's a free hint for Mr. Berger, and anybody else who holds a clearance:

If you have to stick the papers down your pants, it's probably not allowed!

 

[mons meg]

I can attest that none of the security briefings I have ever attended have mentioned any pants approved to be classified storage containers.

 

[MarkDido]

So, can Johnny Walker and other convicted spies appeal their convictions based on the "Berger Precedent?"

 

[Rembrandt]

....should be known henceforth as "Sandy Burgler"....


Islamic justice would have his hands or fingers cut off for stealing....one of the few customs they have I agree with.

 

[Sleeping Dog]

none of the security briefings I have ever attended have mentioned any pants approved to be classified storage containers

Yes, but you never attended security briefings with Prez Clinton

 

[Greg L]

Islamic justice would have his hands or fingers cut off for stealing....one of the few customs they have I agree with.

Actually it is the offending digit that is cut off. You use your hand/fingers to hold whatever it was that you stole. Seeing as how the papers were stuffed down his pants.....

 

[Kharn]

Why does he need access to classified documents? He's no longer on the government payroll.

Kharn

 

[Gary H]

I hope that they checked his pants before he left the courtroom.

 

[shermacman]

"Rules for thee, but not for me."
S. Burglar

 

[Can'thavenuthingood]

The sentencing capped a bizarre sequence of events in which Berger admitted to sneaki

The lying part is what usually sends people to jail, ask Martha Stewart about that.

Then again, thats only if THEY want you. Like a felon, his clearance ought to be suspended for life.

Isn't illegally taking classified documents a felony like most everything else? If so he is not allowed to have a firearm.

Holding my breath.

Vick

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'd say the Democratic (sic) party fix is in. If you or I had done that, we'd be doing a long stretch of federal felony time.

 

[CAnnoneer]

I must have been under the mistaken impression that we are currently at war.

In war times, such a security breach should lead to heads rolling. $50,000 is probably less than what he spends on whores, drugs, and alcohol each year.

 

[Pilgrim]

Who is paying his fine? George Soros or Barbara Streisand?

Pilgrim

 

[yucaipa]

I wonder if Judge Robinson was a Clinton appointee ?

 

[Fletchette]

People, people! Why all the complaining?

He is one of the Ruling Elite, of course he just pays a fine for felony breach of security during "wartime". We serfs cannot comprehend the reasons for Burger's "mistake". Besides, he said he was "sorry"!





If you or I did such a thing we would be doing hard time. If we ever got out we would have a felony conviction and all of our rights would be repressed. Own a gun? - forget it. But once again, the Ruling Elite proves they are above the law.