I know I said I wouldn't post anything more about Sandy Berger
I just love saying "I told you so." Especially when the confirmation damn near quotes my own analysis.
Sandy Berger exonerated (but not by the media)
The media were all over former National Security Adviser Sandy Berger last week when they learned Berger left the National Archives with copies of classified documents. However, when officials investigating Berger's actions cleared him of withholding information ... barely a peep.
As the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, investigators determined that no original materials are missing from the Archives, and nothing Berger viewed was withheld from the Sept. 11 Commission:
"Archives spokeswoman Susan Cooper said officials there 'are confident that there aren't any original documents missing in relation to this case.' She said in most cases, Mr. Berger was given photocopies to review, and that in any event officials have accounted for all originals to which he had access."
Considering the efforts of Tom DeLay and other Republicans to cast Berger's actions as a plot to remove information potentially damaging to the Clinton administration, it's important for readers to know the Sept. 11 Commission never lost access to that material. But neither the New York Times or Washington Post, which covered the initial "Sandy Burglar" allegations at length, have done a follow-up report on the investigators' findings. While the Journal ran a story, it did so on page six Friday, as the convention dominated the front page where Berger appeared Monday. The news cycle moved on without this key information making a dent.
Berger hasn't been charged with any wrongdoing, and his lawyers said he returned all copies of documents he took. Charges might yet be filed for Berger's removing the documents, but it looks like the only damage done in this case is to Berger's reputation.
Hat tip to Professor Kim
