Hollywood,

“Didn’t Commission staffers have access to this material on their own?”

When one walks into a library one has access to every book in there. That doesn’t mean one is going to set eyes on every shelf let along look at every book let alone read all the titles and so on. Access is nothing more or less that access. The question is what will they stop and look at, then read, then understand.

“If so, isn’t it possible/likely that one or more of them would have seen any document that Berger would want to remove/alter before last Sept/Oct.?”

Someone who simply wanted to see the after action report would tend to request or be given the final version. If whatever “problem” exists is not in the final but, rather, in the drafts then one can idly sit by and hope and pray that nobody happens upon a draft or thinks, “Hey, I’d like to see how this report developed over time, lemme see the drafts” or one can attempt to make sure that no drafts will be seen.

Additionally, keep in mind that Berger was sent to VET what could be seen by the commission. His job was, apparently, to look over the CSI level documents generated by the administration he worked for and make a decision regarding which could be released and what might, I suppose, require “redacting”. Nice position to be in if you know there’s something in there to be concerned about or if you open a file and piss you’re pants, “Holy SHIT! The freakin’ DRAFTS are in here! I told SallyMae to toss those in the burn bag, I know I did. Damn, whattamigonnadonow?”

“Particularly the after action report? Wouldn’t that be one of the first things you’d want to look at? If I’m right, why would Berger take the risk of hiding something that might already have come to the Commission’s attention?”

Asked and answered.