Clinton Defends CIA Nominee Lake -- Dec. 12, 1996
Clinton Names His New Security Team -- Dec. 5, 1996
Transcript Of Clinton's Nomination Of Berger And Lake
White House: Berger Held Energy Stocks Too Long
McCurry Says Mistakes of Berger, Lake Were Accidental
By Kevin Bohn/CNN
WASHINGTON (Dec. 13) -- White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry says National Security Advisor-designate Sandy Berger, currently the deputy national security advisor, inadvertently failed to sell about $90,000 worth of energy stocks until 1994, about a year after he was advised to do so by the White House counsel's office.
McCurry says Berger was asked to sell his Amoco oil company stock. At first he appealed the request, but then told the White House he would comply and asked his independent financial manager for the stock to sell it. The stock originally belonged to his wife's grandfather and then to his wife.
When Berger filed his 1995 financial disclosure form, the stock was listed and then the White House reminded him to sell it.
This revelation comes on the heels of a similar disclosure about CIA Director nominee Anthony Lake, who is the current national security advisor. He was asked in 1993 to sell about $200,000 worth of energy stocks. Lake ordered the stocks to be sold, but they were not. The White House says mistake was discovered two years later, and the stock was sold.
McCurry says both mistakes were not intentional, noting both Lake and Berger were very busy with their job duties and had trusted their financial advisers to carry out their orders. "It is up to the Senate" whether these revelations hurt Lake with members of Congress, McCurry said, asserting that neither Lake nor Berger intentionally violated the request of the White House.
McCurry told reporters that while he thinks it is fair to ask questions about these incidents, harping over these matters "is poisoning the atmosphere." Lake and Berger have good reputations and "don't deserve to be under a cloud," McCurry said.
Lake needs Senate confirmation before he can take over the CIA. Berger's national security advisor post is a White House staff job that does not require the Senate's advice or consent.