Judge Orders Berger to Pay $50,000 for Taking Classified Material

By HOPE YEN

Associated Press Writer
Thursday, September 8, 2005; 2:46 PM

WASHINGTON -- A judge on Thursday ordered Sandy Berger, President Clinton's national security adviser, to pay a $50,000 fine for illegally taking classified documents from the National Archives.

The punishment handed down by U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson exceeded the $10,000 fine recommended by government lawyers. Under the deal, Berger avoids prison time but he must surrender access to classified government materials for three years.