Gergen on Berger: 'Innocent' actions

WASHINGTON, July 20 (UPI) -- A former colleague said Tuesday Clinton national security adviser Sandy Berger only took copies of documents from the National Archives.

Berger was researching Clinton documents last summer in preparation for testimony before the commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Former Clinton aide David Gergen, who worked with Berger in the White House, was interviewed on NBC's "Today" show Tuesday and said of Berger's actions, "I think it's more innocent than it looks."

Gergen said Berger was not attempting to remove anything critical of the Clinton administration. Copies of the purportedly missing documents apparently are widely dispersed, and Berger has said the Sept. 11 commission received everything it asked for.

Sources confirm the FBI is investigating Berger's actions.

Gergen defended Berger in the "Today" interview.

"I have known Sandy Berger for a long time," he said. "He would never do anything to compromise the security of the United States."

Gergen also said he found it "suspicious" that news of the investigation should surface just at the Sept. 11 commission is about release its report.