Sandy Berger will merely lose his license to practice law, a $50,000 fine and 100 hours of community service. How charitable of him to forfeit his license so he wouldn't have to divulge any information or drag the process any further.
From CNN.com:
On July 19, 2004, it was revealed that the U.S. Justice Department was investigating Berger for unlawfully mishandling classified documents in October 2003, by removing them from a National Archives reading room prior to testifying before the 9/11 Commission. The documents were five classified copies of a single report commissioned from Richard Clarke, covering internal assessments of the Clinton administration's handling of the unsuccessful 2000 millennium attack plots.
When initially questioned by reporters, Berger claimed that the removal of the top-secret documents in his attache-case and handwritten notes in his jacket and pants pockets was accidental. He later, in a guilty plea, admitted to deliberately removing the copies and cutting three up with scissors.[13] Two of the copies were recovered by DOJ investigators and returned to the archives.
Berger eventually pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of unauthorized removal and retention of classified material on April 1, 2005. Under a plea agreement, U.S. attorneys recommended a fine of $10,000 and a loss of security clearance for three years. However, on September 8, U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson increased the fine to $50,000 at Berger's sentencing. Robinson stated, "The court finds the fine [recommended by government prosecutors] is inadequate because it doesn't reflect the seriousness of the offense."[14] Berger was also ordered to serve two years of probation and to perform 100 hours of community service.[15]
Critics suggest Berger destroyed primary evidence revealing anti-terrorism policies and actions, and that his motive was to permanently erase Clinton administration pre-9/11 mistakes from the public record.
Funny how influential people get such a break! The cooperation extends between the Republicans and Democrats and explains why despite the fact that President Bush is in office and in charge of US Justice Department, a person that steals classified information and destroys it gets such a light punishment.
Conversely our Justice Dept, prosecutes to the fullest extent, Compean and Ramos of the US Border Patrol. Compean and Ramos shot a drug dealer transporting over 700 pounds of drugs across the border and would not cooperate and stop for the agents. The criminal was shot in the buttocks as a result. The agents are serving a decade long sentence in jail. The criminal was granted immunity for prosecution for his testimony on the agents conduct. He is now suing the United States for millions.
Way to go US Justice Department!!!