David Safavian

Safavian Found Guilty Of Lying to Feds

Zachary Roth | December 19, 2008, 1:55PM

More fallout from the Jack Abramoff investigation, nearly five years after the first hints of the scandal first broke.

The Associated Press reports:

David Safavian was found guilty of one count of obstruction and three counts of making false statements to investigators. Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Safavian, the former top procurement official at the White House, was on trial for lying to investigators about his relationship with disgraced lobbyist jack Abramoff. His 2006 conviction on similar charges had been overturned.

AP adds:

Safavian and his lawyers decided this week not to put on a defense, ending their case without calling a single witness or without Safavian testifying.

David Safavian

Safavian Jury Reaches Verdict

Zachary Roth | December 19, 2008, 12:37PM

The jury in the corruption trial of Abramoff crony David Safavian has reached a verdict. We'll learn later today what it is, reports the Associated Press.

Safavian, who served as the White House's chief procurement officer, is on trial for allegedly lying to investigators about his relationship with Abramoff.

Safavian was convicted in 2006, but that conviction was overturned on appeal.

More when the verdict is available...

David Safavian

Potential Safavian Jurors Asked Whether They Play Golf

Zachary Roth | December 1, 2008, 6:29PM

Jury selection began today in the retrial of David Safavian, the Jack Abramoff crony who served as the top procurement official in the Bush White House.

Safavian was convicted in 2006 of obstructing justice and lying to investigators about his work with Abramoff, as well as concealing information about a golf junket he took to St. Andrews, Scotland with Abramoff and convicted former GOP congressman Bob Ney, among others. But that conviction was thrown out on appeal. He was then re-indicted in October, on charges of obstructing justice, lying on a financial disclosure form and providing false statements to various investigators.

The Washington Post reports that, in addition to the standard questions, the judge in the trial today asked potential jurors whether they played any golf. It's unclear whether that would increase or decrease their chances of being picked.

Regular readers may remember that Safavian's alleged love of golf was a major focus of the original trial.