We finally have all of the salacious details of Clinton National Security Advisor Samuel “Sandy” Berger’s criminal behavior in absconding with classified documents from the National Archives with the release of an Archives Inspector General report.  In 2003, Berger reviewed classified Clinton-era records pertaining to terrorism in preparation for testimony before the 9/11 Commission.  Berger lied about taking the classified documents from the Archives, and then later admitted to stealing the documents from the building and sliding them under a construction trailer.  He later retrieved the stolen classified documents from the construction area and returned with them to his office, where he destroyed several of the records with scissors. 

In my opinion, Berger was going to very great lengths to hide something incredibly damning about the Clinton administration’s actions – or lack thereof – concerning international terrorism.  There’s never been an adequate explanation from Berger about what he was so terribly desperate to destroy.  To make matters worse, the Bush Justice Department brokered a “sweetheart deal” with Berger’s attorney, wherein Berger’s treachery only earned him a $50,000 fine, 100 hours of community service and a three-year bar from accessing classified material.  What a travesty of justice!  Shame on the Bush administration for their blatant “Washington Insider” coddling of the repugnant Mr. Berger!  Any ordinary citizen would be doing “hard time.”

More Questions for Obama

Giddy “news” reports on Illinois Senator Barack Obama’s every word, thought and deed seem to have topped the headlines for the past few weeks.  It’s clear the Presidential Race for 2008 is off and running, even if “unofficial” candidates like Senator Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton are still being coy about their true intentions.  In between the “fluff and style” news items, there have been reports of Senator Obama’s connections to Antoine “Tony” Rezko.  Rezko, who was indicted in October 2006 for a multi-million dollar kick-back scheme, has been a longtime supporter of Obama.  Rezko’s companies have donated large sums to Obama’s campaigns. Rezko also hosted a fundraiser for Obama.  Completing the shady political trifecta – there’s even a questionable real estate deal between the two men.  This week, Obama denied granting an internship in his Capitol Hill office to a 20-year-old student recommended by his corrupt buddy.  The highly competitive internship was one of 98 Illinois spots filled from a pool of 350 applicants and Rezko wanted a friend’s son to get the job. The intern’s father is a longtime Rezko associate who, incidentally, has contributed thousands of dollars to Obama’s political campaigns.

Clintons Held Accountable

Judicial Watch’s persistence and tenacity in holding the Clintons’ accountable was certified by a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C.  The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the vast majority of a lower court award to Judicial Watch of nearly $900,000 in attorney’s fees and costs in a lawsuit related to the Clinton fundraising scandals (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Commerce, Appeal No. 05-5366).  The fees were awarded on December 1, 2006, after a nearly decade-long court battle waged by Judicial Watch.  The scandal involved a scheme by Clinton administration officials to sell seats on taxpayer-funded trade missions in exchange for campaign contributions to the 1996 Clinton-Gore campaign.  Frankly, both of the Clintons still have a lot to answer concerning this scandal.  Let’s see if any of the mainstream media dare to bring the matter up with either Bill or Hillary.

Judicial Watch’s Speakers Bureau

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to student groups at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, and The College of William & Mary in historic Williamsburg, Virginia.  Earlier in November I was invited to another public forum in Richmond, Virginia, where I had the opportunity to discuss the lawsuits JW has filed in California and Virginia to enforce immigration laws.  I’ve also made presentations to the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University in New York, and the City Council of Palm Bay, Florida.  I mention these speaking engagements because you should know that JW President Tom Fitton, Director of Litigation Paul Orfanedes (JW’s senior litigator since 1994) and I make every effort to adjust our calendars to speak to civic groups, business associations, and citizens’ organizations as part of our public education mission.  It’s another important and effective way for JW to “get the word out” on battling public corruption while promoting open government and the rule of law.  Inquiries about our speakers’ bureau should be directed to:

President Gerald R. Ford, Resquiat in Pacem

Our prayers and sympathy to Mrs. Betty Ford and the entire Ford Family at the passing of the 38th President of the United States.  President Ford proved to be a man of calm and steady leadership during an enormously difficult period for our country.  We fondly recall his statement upon assuming the presidency on Aug. 9, 1974: “Our Constitution works; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men. Here the people rule.”

All of us at Judicial Watch wish you a healthy, happy New Year! 

Your tax-deductible contribution will help us start 2007 on strong footing to carry out our anti-corruption efforts.  To ensure your contribution reaches us by December 31, visit http://www.judicialwatch.org to donate online.  Thank you for your support of our work this year.

Chris Farrell, Judicial Watch Director of Investigations

Judicial Watch is a non-partisan, educational foundation organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code.  Judicial Watch is dedicated to fighting government and judicial corruption and promoting a return to ethics and morality in our nation’s public life.