(2004-07-21) -- Former Clinton national security advisor Samuel R. "Sandy" Berger today returned the orginal copy of the U.S. Constitution to the National Archives.

"It was an honest mistake," said Mr. Berger, who until this morning was an advisor to Democrat presidential hopeful John Forbes Kerry. "I accidentally wrapped the Constitution around my left leg and mistakenly secured it with rubber bands."

A spokesman for the National Archives said he was pleased to have the Constitution back.

"Until Mr. Berger returned it," said the source, "our prime suspects were all in the federal judiciary."