Source: Washington Post
It looks like longtime friend and well-connected chief of staff at the General Services Administration, David H. Safavian, may have some tough questions to answer for his role in the Jack Abramoff scandal criminal investigation.
The issue: whether or not Safavian was complacent in illegal dealings with the GSA involving Abramoff in hopes of getting new business for the now-indicted former lobbyist.
Lobbyist Jack Abramoff gained renown in Washington for both his big fees and his big spending, but that didn't mean he couldn't look for a bargain.
On Aug. 21, 2002, he sent an e-mail to his friend David H. Safavian, chief of staff at the General Services Administration. "I have a need to buy a stretch limo for the restaurant," Abramoff wrote, referring to Signatures, the downtown establishment he owned. "Are there any coming up on any of the GSA drug property sales?"
It looks like Karl Rove isn't the only one who has a problem telling the truth before federal investigators.
Safavian has been charged with lying to federal officials about Abramoff's interest in doing business with the GSA to gain approval from GSA ethics officials to take a week-long golfing trip to Scotland.
As to the well-connected GOP son and lobbyist Jack Abramoff, he's busy now trying to save his hide and probably making a few new enemies doing so.
Abramoff has pleaded guilty to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials. He is cooperating with prosecutors and is expected to be a witness at Safavian's trial, which is scheduled to begin May 22.
Corruption and the GOP--they have proven beyond a doubt they are the party of "high morals" and "good stewards of ethics and change". Not.
Tags: [Jack Abramoff], [David H. Safavian], [chief of staff at the General Services Administration], [GSA], [Abramoff asked for a seized limo from GSA drug property sales], [Abramoff is a witness at Safavian's trial], [was Safavian was complacent in illegal dealings with the GSA?]
No comments:
Post a Comment