Gambling lobbyist joined with anti-gambling congressman, derailed gambling

[Roland99]

Beyond Abramoff: Gambling lobbyist joined with anti-gambling congressman, derailed gambling bills

Ex-lobbyist now oversees $300 billion in federal spending
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Beyond_Abramoff_Gambling_lobbyist_joined_forces_with_antigambling_congressman_derailed_gambling_0901.html

A friend and former colleague of fallen lobbyist Jack Abramoff who rose swiftly through the ranks of the conservative establishment quietly advanced the interests of former clients under the cloak of a vocally anti-gambling Utah congressman, RAW STORY has found.

David Safavian, appointed in 2004 by President Bush to oversee $300 billion of annual federal purchasing as director of the Office of Management and Budget, has largely flown below the radar in his relationship to a massive lobbying scandal surrounding a lobbyist who siphoned millions of dollars from Indian tribes and gambling interests into conservative coffers.

That lobbyist, Jack Abramoff, has long Safavian ties. Abramoff schooled Safavian at Preston, Gates & Ellis where they jointly represented a broad swath of gambling interests–work now being probed by federal investigators.

From there, Safavian went on to found lobby shop Janus Merritt with Abramoff’s college roommate and conservative maverick Grover Norquist. At Janus, he represented an array of Internet gambling firms, many of whom Abramoff would later serve. During his career as a lobbyist, Safavian handled more than $2.5 million in gambling accounts.