Former National Security Adviser Samuel R. Berger was fined $50,000 by a federal judge yesterday for illegally taking classified documents out of the National Archives by stuffing them in his pants.
According to the Washington Times, in ordering the fine, U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson, ignored a recommendation by government lawyers that Mr. Berger pay only a $10,000 fine as part of a plea agreement reached in April:
"The court finds the fine is inadequate because it doesn't reflect the seriousness of the offense," Judge Robinson said in handing down the sentence. She also ordered Mr. Berger to surrender his access to classified government materials for three years, perform 100 hours of community service and serve two years' probation.
He also was ordered to pay $6,905 for the administrative costs of his two-year probation.
Berger told the court he let "considerations of personal convenience override clear rules of handling classified material."
Berger's attorney said his client would not appeal the ruling, adding that the September 11 attacks "weighed heavily" on Mr. Berger and he took the classified documents, along with handwritten notes, from the Archives to get the facts correct on the terrorist attacks.
Berger pleaded guilty in April to a misdemeanor charge of unauthorized removal and retention of classified material.
The question remains - what was Berger trying to hide?
What could be so important to Berger, and so important to the government that they would be satisfied with a slap on the wrist so minor the judge found it necessary to increase it by 500 percent?
Comments