Ex administration official indicted in lobbyist probe -

[DanCa]

Ex-administration official indicted in lobbyist probe

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Bush administration's former chief procurement official was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury on charges of making false statements and obstructing investigations into high-powered Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
The five felony counts in the indictment charge David Safavian with obstructing Senate and executive branch investigations into whether he aided Abramoff in efforts to acquire property controlled by the General Services Administration around the nation's capital.

Both probes looked into an August 2002 golf outing that Safavian took to Scotland with Abramoff, former Christian Coalition executive Ralph Reed, Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, and others.

Safavian, a former lobbying associate of Abramoff, is the first person beyond Abramoff himself to face charges arising out of the probe of the lobbyist, who is a major Republican fundraiser with close ties to GOP leaders in Congress.

The indictment covers May 16, 2002, until January 2004, when Safavian was chief of staff at the General Services Administration, the government housekeeping agency. From November 2004 until late last month when he resigned three days before his arrest, he was the government's top procurement officer, in the Office of Management and Budget.

The indictment said Safavian falsely told a GSA ethics officer, a GSA inspector general's agent and the Senate Indian Affairs Committee that Abramoff had no business with GSA at the time the Scotland trip was being planned. It said Safavian concealed that Abramoff did have business with GSA before the trip and that Safavian was aiding him in dealing with GSA.

Barbara Van Gelder, Safavian's lawyer, said Safavian would plead not guilty. "If this case did not involve Mr. Abramoff, the government would never have indicted Mr. Safavian on these charges," she added. "We believe ... Mr. Safavian will be acquitted of all charges."

Each count carries a potential top penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

[marmar]

1. Now let's watch as the dominos tumble...

:popcorn:

[DanCa]

3. here you go

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-10-05-official-indicted_x.htm?csp=24

let me know if that works my fingers are shaking really bad tonight.

[opihimoimoi]

5. Big bucks gonna be offered to STFU and take the hit

But who wants to spend a nickle in Jail....someone is gonna make a deal....end of Bushie Boy et al......

[cynatnite]

2. Link? n/t

[DanCa]

7. I put the link under the here you go line. (nt)

[Straight Shooter]

4. "We believe ... Mr. Safavian will be acquitted of all charges."

Suuure you do. :eyes:

[phusion]

6. Your topic implies that Abramoff was indicted

got me excited there for a second...

[seemslikeadream]

8. Would you fix your headline?

Abramoff was not indicted

thanks

[DanCa]

11. Is that better sorry about the confusion i guess i was over excited.

[SharonRB]

9. Your opening makes it sound like Abramoff was indicted

That doesn't appear to be the case.

[SpiralHawk]

10. The "Procurer" gets fingered

Sounds like a character right out of Canterbury Tales ...

Let's hope the "Pardoner" is next.