Sandy Berger’s excuses for “inadvertently” removing classified documents from a secure reading room (by “inadvertently” stuffing them into his pants and jacket) are absolutely pathetic: Federal probe targets Clinton’s national security adviser. Remember as you read: this is a former national security adviser speaking.

In a statement, Berger acknowledged that he removed his handwritten notes without first having them reviewed for sensitive information, and he also said he “inadvertently” removed some of the classified documents he had reviewed during his time at the Archives.

National Archives’ policy requires that if someone reviews classified documents and wants to take their handwritten notes with them, those notes must first be cleared by archivists.

In his statement, Berger said that “when I was informed by the Archives there were documents missing, I immediately returned everything I had, except for a few documents that apparently I had accidentally discarded.”

“I deeply regret the sloppiness involved, but I had no intention of withholding documents from the commission, and to the contrary, to my knowledge, every document requested by the commission from the Clinton administration was produced,” he said.

A Berger associate, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the FBI served warrants and searched both Berger’s home and office earlier this year as part of the investigation.

A government official familiar with the investigation said that some documents are still missing.

Among the documents Berger says he inadvertently took, the sources confirmed, were drafts of a Clinton administration “after action” report on efforts to thwart al Qaeda around the time of the millennium.

Archives officials told investigators that at least one draft of that report is still missing.

Officials close to Berger said it was ludicrous to suggest that he was trying to hide damaging information from the 9/11 commission.

It may be “ludicrous,” but the plot continues to thicken—because some of the classified documents Berger lifted were written by anti-Bush hatchetman Richard Clarke:

They said the drafts were written by Clinton counterterrorism czar Richard Clarke and had been changed somewhat, as is customary, as the drafts were circulated among relevant agencies and officials.