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Prison Time for Former Bush Aide in Lobbying Scandal
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ShareOctober 27, 2006 5:08 PM
A former Bush Administration official convicted in connection with the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.
David H. Safavian, the former chief of staff of the General Services Administration, was convicted by a federal jury last spring of obstruction of justice and lying to investigators. His lawyer says they will appeal.
In court today, Safavian asked the judge for leniency and admitted, "I'm disgusted with myself." He claimed he'd been manipulated by the powerful lobbyist.
THE BLOTTER RECOMMENDS
In happier days, Safavian accepted lavish favors from Abramoff, including a 2002 golf trip to Scotland, while helping Abramoff make business deals with the GSA.
Safavian's case was the first in the Abramoff scandal to go to trial; six others, including Abramoff himself and Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH), have entered guilty pleas.
Abramoff's sentencing has been postponed twice while he continues to cooperate with investigators. As Brian Ross reported on the Blotter, federal law enforcement officials say he has spent "hours and hours" with FBI agents detailing his relationships with dozens of members of Congress.
Rep. Ney, who also went on the golf trip to Scotland, pleaded guilty earlier this month but did not resign from his seat in Congress. House Republican leaders say they'll move to expel him when Congress reconvenes after the elections, but until then Ney continues to draw his $165,200-a-year salary.
October 27, 2006 in Abramoff Lobbying Scandal | Permalink | User Comments (15)
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Do the crime. Do the time.
Posted by: mike jones | Oct 27, 2006 5:39:54 PM
remember when the republicans ran around complaining about lewinksy? that was awesome. the war, curruption, little boy fetish, etc. -makes that whole "cigar" seem insignificant dont you think?
Posted by: Ted | Oct 27, 2006 5:59:10 PM
Ted-Have they STOPPED crying "Lewinsky" yet? Seems to be their only ammo. Bring on November 7th!
Posted by: Wright | Oct 27, 2006 7:32:12 PM
Doesn't his boss bear some responsibility? Was Safavian directed to obstruct justice? Do we know?
Posted by: graham poor | Oct 27, 2006 8:43:24 PM
Things are starting to sound like they did prior to the Bush re-election. The democrats are gonna crush the republicans. Just remember it aint' over until the fat lady sings or the last Senator gets caught with his finger in the pie before election day. Instead of "Bring on November 7th" it ought to be lets vote now before one of our knuckleheads screws up.
Posted by: Barry Witt | Oct 27, 2006 9:07:00 PM
remember, the party of integrity, going to bring honor back, lol. these GrOPers have brought the US to probably the lowest status in the world in a short period of time... cnn was right "broken government"
Posted by: mike | Oct 27, 2006 9:27:56 PM
It seem to me that Lewiski/Clnton is childs play compare what the
rebublicans are going throug right
now.
Posted by: bjorn | Oct 27, 2006 9:30:01 PM
Everyone, stop trying to turn this into a Republican/Democrat thing, this is about someone doing something wrong and going to jail. Nothing more, nothing less. I am so sick of hearing the right and left side of things, I think I will be sick!!!
Posted by: mike jones | Oct 27, 2006 9:42:51 PM
That flash picture slide show of the golf tournament moves way too fast from one slide to the next.
Posted by: Bjorn Tipling | Oct 27, 2006 10:48:09 PM
What Mr. Safavian did threatened our national security. Instead of bribing him with such a light sentence, he should be stripped naked, forced to pose in DOD porn flicks, and beaten to within an inch of his life.
THEN maybe he'll talk a little more freely.
Posted by: Sanders Kaufman | Oct 28, 2006 1:06:52 AM
Mike, it's not a Republican/Democrat thing. It's a Dubya regime/rest of the world thing.
Posted by: Jeff | Oct 28, 2006 7:16:54 AM
I believe it is about time Republicans step aside and let the Democrates take over. Democrates are united and more confident to handle the iraq issus and serve American Foreing Policy taking preemtive measures than under the gun barrel of Rupublicans. It is neccssary for a change of course to take place before more lives are lost in this unpopular war.
Posted by: David Simple | Oct 28, 2006 8:01:08 AM
He claimed he'd been manipulated by the powerful lobbyist.
Cop out!
He was greedy and self serving and now he hides behind it being someone elses fault?
But as long as he stood trial and made the right pleas that ended it quickly, without too much inconvenient investigation, the people above him that either knew of, approved or directed him to play ball with Abramoff can walk and remain unaccountable.
"Same as it ever was."
Posted by: zach | Oct 28, 2006 3:42:49 PM
First, how can anyone keep bringing up Lewinsky? That is ancient history. And no one's past behavior excuses anyone's current behavior.
The Republicans have dug their own hole and as it gets deeper, the ladder gets shorter. I'm not all that keen on many of the economic policies that the Dems might push, but we Republicans have no one to blame other than other Republicans. During the 1990s, Republicans tried to politically exploit every Democratic scandal they could and now the reverse is happening.
Get real people, that is the nature of politics...always has been and always will be.
Posted by: gus | Oct 30, 2006 9:08:29 AM
Gee, looks like all the GOP Pentagon Attack Trolls are doing double-duty.
Posted by: Liberty | Nov 1, 2006 9:36:10 PM
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