WASHINGTON IN BRIEF
Thursday, October 12, 2006; Page A09
House Republicans Seek Berger Inquiry
A group of House Republicans called yesterday for a congressional investigation into the improper handling of classified documents by President Bill Clinton's national security adviser, Samuel R. "Sandy" Berger.
Berger admitted last year that he took classified documents out of the National Archives in 2003 and destroyed some of them. He pleaded guilty in federal court to one charge of unauthorized removal and retention of classified material and was fined $50,000.
Ten lawmakers led by House Armed Services Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) and Judiciary Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) released a letter calling for the House Government Reform Committee to investigate.
Government Reform Chairman Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.) responded to the letter by sending a request to the National Archives' inspector general asking for his report on the Berger matter. Committee spokesman Brian McNicoll said it was a preliminary step to help Davis decide whether to pursue a committee investigation.
Berger's attorney, Lanny Breuer, did not return a call for comment.
Group Works to Restore Ex-Cons' Voting Rights
Almost 4 million Americans who have completed their prison terms remain unable to vote because of laws in most states that prevent them from doing so, according to a new report. But moves to restore those voting rights are spreading -- even making the Nov. 7 ballot in Rhode Island.
The Sentencing Project, a Washington-based group supporting criminal justice reform, said in a report that 16 states have expanded voting access for ex-convicts in the past 10 years, enabling more than 600,000 people to regain voting rights.
Joint Naval Exercises Set for Persian Gulf
Facing nuclear disputes with Iran and North Korea, the United States, Bahrain and other nations will hold their first joint naval exercise in the Persian Gulf on Oct. 31 to practice interdicting ships carrying weapons of mass destruction and missiles, U.S. officials said.
-- From News Services
