(DNC Release) David Safavian: An "Old Friend" of Abramoff's

[MaineDem]

For Immediate Release:
September 20, 2005
Contact: Josh Earnest 202-863-8148

DAVID SAFAVIAN: AN "OLD FRIEND" OF ABRAMOFF'S

David Safavian, former Chief of Staff for GSA and Chief Procurement
Officer at the Office of Budget and Management, was arrested this week
for obstructing an ongoing federal investigation into Jack Abramof''s
questionable business dealings with the Bush Administration and
Republican members of Congress. Safavian repeatedly told investigators
that he had no ongoing business with the Republican mega-lobbyist.
However, during that time, Safavian was helping Abramoff lease
government property controlled by the agency where he worked. He gave
him advice over email, reviewed memos that Abramoff was sending to other
GSA employees, and set up a meeting for Abramoff's wife and business
partner with Administration officials. To say thank you, Abramoff took
him to Scotland on a golf junket with Republican members of Congress.
But Safavian did''t rest on his laurels. Up until his arrest, he was
busy setting contracting policy for billions in federal funds earmarked
for the Gulf Coast rel
ief effort. This is what Bush's policies of political cronyism and
patronage have produced: political hacks and lobbyists handling billions
of dollars in taxpayer funds, while jetting off to Europe on trips paid
for by their old lobbying partners.

SAFAVIAN AND ABRAMOFF:
MAYBE THAT GOLFING TRIP WASN'T A GOOD IDEA

Safavian Arrested In Connection With Abramoff Probe. The Bush
Administration's chief contracting and procurement official at OMB,
David Safavian was arrested on charges of making false statements to an
ethics official, making false statements to the General Services
Agency's Inspector General, and obstruction of a GSA-IG investigation.


* Safavian Accused of Lying About Abramoff Contacts, At Least Three
Times. "The complaint alleges that Safavian lied about his contacts with
Abramoff on three occasions after his initial false pledge to the GSA
ethics officer. The first was during a 2003 investigation by GSA's
inspector general, who was responding to an anonymous tipster's hotline
complaint; the second was in a March 17, 2005, letter to the Senate
Committee on Indian Affairs; and the third was during an FBI interview
on May 26, 2005"

Safavian Provided Hands on Assistance to Help Abramoff Lease GSA
Property, Even as He Lied to the GSA Ethics Officer. In the days leading
up to his trip with Abramoff, Safavian had extensive contact with him
regarding his business with GSA. In July of 2002, they discussed the
need for possible "Hill pressure" to close the deal on the office space
in the Old Post Office building. On the same day that Safavian discussed
the golf trip with the GSA ethics officer, assuring him that Abramoff
had no business with GSA, Safavian emailed Abramoff from his personal
computer, the email advised Abramoff on how to "lay out a case for this
lease." The day before the Scotland trip Safavian arranged for a meeting
between Abramoff's wife and business partners and GSA officials to
discuss the lease.

After Returning from Scotland, Safavian Attempted To Hide His Efforts
to Influence GSA Business With Jack Abramoff. According to the FBI,
Safavian, who was Chief of Staff at the GSA, asked for clearance to take
a golf trip to Scotland with Abramoff, Congressman Bob Ney, and Ralph
Reed, from the GSA's Ethics Officer and signed an affidavit that
Abramoff had no ongoing business with GSA. However, according to FBI
Special Agent Jeffrey Reising, Abramoff was currently attempting to
lease two GSA controlled properties in the Washington D.C. area, one in
Silver Spring, MD for use in the Hebrew School he had started, and
another in the Old Post Office building in downtown Washington for a
client.

SAFAVIAN: THE MICHAEL BROWN OF OMB

Safavian Was Working On Katrina Relief Efforts Before Being Arrested.
Safavian, in his capacity as the chief procurement official, for the
Office of Management and Budget was involved in the federal response to
Hurricane Katrina, until he was charged and arrested for lying to a
government investigator. According to the New York Times, "Mr. Safavian
had recently been working on developing contracting policies for the
multibillion-dollar relief effort after Hurricane Katrina." Post, 9/20/05; New York Times, 9/20/05]

Safavian's Wife Was Chief Counsel for Republicans On Committee That
Would Investigate Katrina, Had Oversight Of Safavian's Work. "His wife,
Jennifer Safavian, is chief counsel for oversight and investigations on
the House Government Reform Committee, which is responsible for
overseeing government procurement and is, among other things, expected
to conduct the Congressional investigation into missteps after Hurricane
Katrina."

Safavian Had Limited Background in Procurement When Nominated by Bush.
"'He doesn't have a lot of background in procurement, so the hope is
that he's a good learner,' says Steven Kelman, who served as federal
procurement administrator in the Clinton administration. 'I don't know
where David Safavian comes out on ,' says Allan
Burman, another former procurement chief. Angela Styles, who held the
top acquisition post until last September, says Safavian has 'no
apparent philosophy' on procurement issues."

* Qualifications for Employment: Norquist Connections. "Safavian, in
addition to once working on the Hill as an aide to lawmakers, has also
been a lobbyist. He was a co-founder of the lobby and consulting shop
Janus-Merritt Strategies -- with Grover Norquist, a Republican anti-tax
activist -- and has lobbied for the National Indian Gaming Association,
the Interactive Gaming Council, the Interactive Services Association,
the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, NorthPoint
Communications Inc. and Covad Communications, among others." Post, 1/21/05]

THE NEXT SHOE TO DROP?

Bush Administration Officials Named in Abramoff Marianas Trip Memo. In
memos dated May 6 and May 20, 1997, Bush Administration officials are
named as having traveled to the Marinas Islands while working for
Safavian's lobbying firm. The memo shows that Safavian was on the trip
to the Marianas Islands lead by Abramoff and had his expenses picked up
by the firm.

Safavian and Abramoff Shared Clients at Lobbying Firm. In 1992, the
United States froze all assets belonging to the Republic of Montenegro
to prevent any of its funds from being used in the Slobodan Milosevic's
war effort in the former Yugoslavia Republics. The Montenegrin
government retained an American law firm to help them get their assets
unfrozen, and their seized property sold. According to The Legal Times,
Jack Abramoff and David Safavian were assigned to work together on the
Montenegrin's account.

**********

Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee,
www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any
candidate or candidate's committee.

[hedda_foil]

1. I love you Howard, oh yes I do. I love you Howard and I'll be true!

While the DC Dems do their DLC tapdance, Howard, is recreating the party right out from under them!

[MaineDem]

2. I'm pleased with Howard, too, but to be fair...

This sort of information was coming out under McAuliffe's leadership, too.

[Tiggeroshii]

4. All those Repugs who were certain Howard would screw things up for us,

will certainly eat their words in 06...

[Wordie]

3. Lovely! They are falling like flies...Brown, Safavian, who will be next???