I also can't answer the question, but I'll say some things that could help. One thing von Staudt-Clausen tells you is the denominator of the Bernoulli number $B_k$: it is precisely, the product of primes p for which $p-1\mid k$ (when $p-1\nmid k$, a result of Kummer says that $B_k/k$ is p-integral). As Buzzard commented, the Bernoulli numbers should be thought of (at least in this situation) as appearing in special values of *p*-adic *L*-functions, specifically, for *k* a positive integer
$$\zeta_p(1-k)=(1-p^{k-1})(-B_k/k),$$
where $\zeta_p$ is the p-adic Riemann zeta function (see chapter II of Koblitz's "p-adic numbers, p-adic analysis, and zeta-functions", for example).
For a totally real field *F*, a generalization of the *p*-adic Riemann zeta function exists, namely the *p*-adic Dedekind zeta function $\zeta_{F,p}$ (as proved independently by Deligne–Ribet ([Inv Math 59][1]), Cassou-Noguès ([Inv Math 51][2]), and Barsky ([1978][3])). One link between these and the Leopoldt conjecture is through the *p*-adic analytic class number formula which is the main theorem of Colmez's "Résidue en *s* = 1 des fonctions zêta *p*-adiques" ([Inv Math 91][4]):
$$\lim_{s\rightarrow1}(s-1)\zeta_{F,p}(s)=\frac{2^{[F:\mathbf{Q}]}R_phE_p}{w\sqrt{D}}$$
where *h* is the class number,
$$E_p=\prod_{\mathfrak{p}\mid p}\left(1-\mathcal{N}(\mathfrak{p})^{-1}\right)$$ is a product of Euler-like factors, *w* = 2 is the number of roots of unity, *D* is the discriminant and $R_p$ is the interesting part here: the *p*-adic regulator (as Colmez notes, $\sqrt{D}$ and $R_p$ both depend on a choice of sign, but their ratio does not).

<b>Theorem:</b> The Leopoldt conjecture is equivalent to the non-vanishing of the *p*-adic regulator.

(For this, see, for example, chapter X of Neukirch-Schmidt-Wingberg's "Cohomology of number fields").

A clear consequence of this is that if $\zeta_{F,p}$ does not have a pole at *s* = 1, then the Leopoldt conjecture is false for (*F*, *p*). Perhaps an understanding of the denominators of values of $\zeta_{F,p}$ could lead to an understanding of the pole at *s* = 1 of $\zeta_{F,p}$.

Added (2010/04/09): So here's how you can use von Staudt–Clausen to see that the $p$-adic zeta function (of **Q**) has a pole at *s* = 1. It is clear from your statment of vS–C that it is saying that for $k\equiv0\text{ (mod }p-1)$, $B_k\equiv -1/p\text{ (mod }\mathbf{Z}_p)$ (i.e. it is not $p$-integral). Let $k_i=(p-1)p^i$, the $k_i$ is $p$-adically converging to 0, so $\zeta_p(1-k_i)$ is approaching $\zeta_p(1)$ (since $\zeta_p(s)$ is $p$-adically continuous, at least for $s\neq1$). By the aforementioned interpolation property of $\zeta_p(1-k)$, we have
$$v_p(\zeta_p(1-k_i))=v_p(B_{k_i}/k_i)=-1-i\rightarrow -\infty$$
hence $1/\zeta_p(1-k_i)$ is approaching 0.


  [1]: http://www.ams.org/mathscinet-getitem?mr=579702
  [2]: http://www.ams.org/mathscinet-getitem?mr=524276
  [3]: http://www.ams.org/mathscinet-getitem?mr=525346
  [4]: http://www.ams.org/mathscinet-getitem?mr=922806