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Also see ===Related Links===*[[Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.]], [http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=11209 "A Troubling Influence"] and [http://www.frontpagemag.com/articles/readarticle.asp?ID=11210 "A Troubling Influence, Con't.,"] ''Front Page Magazine'', December 9, 2003.*Susan Schmidt and R. Jeffrey Smith, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/20/AR2005092001758.html "Aide Was Reticent on Lobbying for Foreign Clients,"] ''Washington Post'', September 21, 2005.
Standardize external links headers
'''David Hossein Safavian''' was nominated by President [[George W. Bush]] as Administrator, [http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/procurement/ Office of Federal Procurement Policy], [[Office of Management and Budget]] (OMB) on January 22, 2004. He [http://www.fcw.com/article90857-09-19-05-Web&RSS=yes resigned] Friday, September 16, 2005, and ". [[Robert A. Burton]], OFPP’s associate administrator, is now took over "managing the office." '''Convicted'''<br>On June 20, 2006, in the "first trial to emerge from the scandal surrounding" former business partner [[Jack Abramoff]], Safavian was "convicted on four of five felony counts of lying and obstruction" and the "verdict gave a boost to the wide-ranging influence peddling probe that focuses on Abramoff's dealings with [[Congress]]." Also highlighted in the case was the name of Rep. [[Bob Ney]] (R-OH). "A key witness in the case was [[Neil Volz]], a convicted partner of Abramoff's and ex-chief of staff to Ney. Prosecutors introduced hundreds of e-mails exchanged among Safavian, Abramoff, Volz and others in 2002." [http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LOBBYIST_PROBE?SITE=1010WINS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT]
'''Indicted for Corruption'''<br>
Until Safavian's arrest on September 19, 2005, for [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/19/AR2005091901859.html making] "repeated false statements to government officials and investigators about a golf trip" to Scotland he took in 2002 with [[Jack Abramoff]], the connection between Abramoff's corruption and his [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2005/09/20/BL2005092000753_pf.html connections] to the [[Bush administration]] had been "relatively weak." [http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/5299.html]
'''Indicted for Felony'''<br>
The new [http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/press_room/press_releases/2005_4245_SafavianIndict100505.pdf five-count felony indictment] covers the period May 16, 2002, until January 2004, when Safavian was chief of staff at the General Services Administration. Safavian has been charged with "obstructing a GSA proceeding, obstructing a U.S. Senate proceeding, and making false statements, Assistant Attorney General [[Alice S. Fisher]] of the Criminal Division announced." "Each count carries a potential top penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine." --[http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=54613 ''US Newswire]/[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/05/AR2005100501640.html ''Washington Post'', October 5, 2005].
----
Safavian, the [[Bush administration]]’s "top federal procurement officer" in the Office of Management and Budget, was arrested September 19, 2005, "based on a three-count criminal complaint filed in federal court, according to a [[Justice Department]] [http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2005/September/05_crm_490.htm statement]." [http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/092005/brief1.html]
"The Jack Abramoff [[lobbying]] scandal reached into the White House," [[Dan Froomkin ]] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2005/09/20/BL2005092000753_pf.html wrote] in the September 20, 2005, ''Washington Post'', "picking off" President Bush's "top procurement official -- who just barely had time to resign before being arrested."
"The complaint, filed by the [[FBI]], alleges that David H. Safavian, 38, a White House procurement official involved until last week in [[Hurricane Katrina]] relief efforts, made repeated false statements to government officials and investigators about a golf trip with Abramoff to Scotland in 2002," R. Jeffrey Smith and Susan Schmidt [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/19/AR2005091901859.html wrote] in the September 20, 2005, ''Washington Post''.
"According to the Feds' complaint, Abramoff invited Safavian to participate in a trip to Scotland that summer to play golf at the world-famous St. Andrews course. Total tab: $100,000. Safavian received prior approval from his agency's ethics officer. But the Feds say he had neglected to mention that Abramoff at the time was seeking to lease property from the GSA and had sought Safavian's help. When a whistle-blower's complaint led to an inquiry, Safavian falsely told the GSA inspector general, and later the FBI, that Abramoff had 'no business' before the agency, the Feds charge. (Safavian's lawyer denied that Abramoff's leasing efforts constituted 'business' before the GSA and noted that Safavian reimbursed Abramoff $3,100 for the trip. Abramoff's lawyer declined to comment.)," Michael Isikoff [http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9470786/site/newsweek/ wrote] in the October 3, 2005, issue of ''Newsweek''.
"Mr. Safavian had recently been working on developing contracting policies for the multibillion-dollar relief effort after Hurricane Katrina." Safavian's "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," Philip Shenon and Anne E. Kornblut [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/20/politics/20lobby.html?pagewanted=all wrote] in the September 20, 2005, ''New York Times''.
==Bush's "[[global struggle against violent extremism]]"==
Safavian "initially failed to disclose lobbying work he had done for several controversial foreign clients when he went before a Senate panel last year [2004] to be confirmed as chief of the White House's federal procurement office.
"The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee held up Safavian's nomination for more than a year, in part because of lawmakers' concerns about lobbying work for two men later accused of links to suspected terrorist organizations, according to committee documents. Safavian did not disclose his firm's representation of the men until questioned in writing by the committee's staff, and initially failed to tell the panel he had registered as a foreign agent for two controversial African regimes," Susan Schmidt and R. Jeffrey Smith [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/20/AR2005092001758.html reported] in the September 21, 2005, ''Washington Post''.
''Washington Whispers'' (''US News & World Report'') [http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/whispers/articles/040913/13whisplead_2.htm reported] September 13, 2004:
:"A nominee to a key government procurement post has troubled some on Capitol Hill because of his ties to alleged [[Islam]]ic extremists. Despite an April hearing on David Safavian 's appointment to an Office of Management and Budget job overseeing $300 billion in government contracts, the full Senate has not held a vote, in part because of lingering questions about his work for the former lobbying firm of White House ally Grover Norquist, now head of Americans for Tax Reform. Lobbying disclosure forms show Safavian worked for [http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/this_just_in/documents/01848515.htm Abdurahman Alamoudi], who [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26090-2004Jul29.html pleaded] [sic] guilty this summer to aiding a [[Libya]]n plot to assassinate [[Saudi Arabia]]n Crown Prince Abdullah and was [http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/10/23/muslim.indicted/ accused] by prosecutors of having ties to [[al Qaeda]]. Safavian, however, said he never lobbied for Alamoudi. The real client was a man named [http://www.accessnorthga.com/news/hall/newfullstory.asp?id=55248 Jamal al Barzinji], but that's not much better. A 2002 federal affidavit names Barzinji as the leader of a group suspected of aiding [[terrorist]]s. Safavian told the Senate his work was limited only to pitching the firm to Barzinji."
==[[Hurricane Katrina: Profiteering|Profiteering]]==
*[[Bush administration scandals]]
*[[outsourcing]]
*[[Paul A. Denett]]
*[[Republican 'culture of corruption']]
*[[Susan B. Ralston]]
*[["Team Abramoff"]]
==External Linkslinks ==
===Profiles===
*[http://www.whitehouse.gov/results/leadership/bio_390.html The President & His Leadership Team: "David Safavian -- General Services Administration, Chief of Staff of the General Services Administration,"] White House Appointee Directory.
*[http://www.newsmeat.com/washington_political_donations/David_H_Safavian.php Campaign Contributions: "David H. Safavian, indicted for corruption"] ''Newsmeat''.
===OMB Policies===*Sara Michael, [http://www.fcw.com:8443/fcw/articles/2004/0426/web-safav-04-29-04.asp "Safavian stresses human capital, competitive sourcing,"] FCW.com, April 29, 2004.*Amelia Gruber, [http://38.118.42.202/dailyfed/0404/042904a1.htm "OMB procurement nominee may rethink controversial policies,"] ''GovExec.com'', April 29, 2004.*Sara Michael, [http://www.fcwevents.com/article82779 "OFPP nominee outlines his priorities,"] FCW.com, May 3, 2004.*[http://www.arnet.gov/AcqNet/Updates/FAInsightJan2005.pdf "New Leaders in Acquisition: An Interview with Office of Federal Procurement Policy Administrator David Safavian,"] ''Federal Acquisition Insight'', January 2005.*[http://www.arnet.gov/aap/documents/omb_announcement.pdf Announcement: "OMB Announces Establishment Policies|Office of Services Acquisition Advisory Panel,"] February 1, 2005. On the list of Panel members is [[Carl DeMaio]], President Management and Founder of the Performance Institute, who endorsed Safavian as OMB Administrator (see above).*Jason Miller, [http://www.gcn.com/24_3/outsourcing/34942-1.html "OFPP sees ways to improve buying,"] ''Government Computer News'', February 7, 2005.*[http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/katrina_credit_cards.html "*Christopher Lee, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61079-2005Apr17.html "Bush's 'Competitive Sourcing' Worries Disabled Workers. Initiative May Put Employees With Special Needs At a Decided Disadvantage, Their Advocates Say,"Budget Policies] ''Washington Post'', April 18, 2005.*David Perera, [http://www.fed100.com/article88692-04-26-05-Web "Agencies to form commodity councils,"] FCW.com'', April 26, 2005.*Tichakorn Hill, [http://www.federaltimes.com/index2.php?S=809526 "OMB: Inherently governmental jobs to be opened to competition — to other feds,"] ''Federal Times'', April 27, 2005.*Tichakorn Hill, [http://www.itpaa.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1676 "OMB officials seek repeal of anti-outsourcing laws,"] IT Professionals Association, June 8, 2005.*[http://federaltimes.com/index2.php?S=906378 "David Safavian. Office of Management and Budget. New acquisition policy manager sees 'no room for error',"] ''Federal Times'', June 13, 2005.*David Perera, [http://www.fcwevents.com/article89300-06-20-05-Print "OMB revives forum on contracting issues,"] FCW.com, June 20, 2005.*[http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/fedgovernment/sba/sbanews/sbanews071105b.html "SBA General Counsel Selected to Serve on Critical Acquisition Advisory Panel,"] ''Small Business Notes'', July 11, 2005.*[http://www.econstats.com/Budget/2006/contributors.pdf "OMB Contributors to the 2006 Budget,"] ''Econstats.com'': David Safavian.
===Documents===
*[http://www.senate.gov/~gov_affairs/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Detail&HearingID=264 Title: "GSA – Is the Taxpayer Getting the Best Deal? U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs."] Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security, July 26, 2005. Witness list includes David Safavian.
===2003===*Amelia Gruber and Jason Peckenpaugh, [http://216.109.125.130/search/cache?p=%22David+Safavian%22&sm=Yahoo%21+Search&toggle=1&ei=UTF-8&u=www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1103/110303p1.htm&w=%22david+safavian%22&d=DsRim2FULc_3&icp=1&.intl=us "GSA official nominated to be federal procurement chief,"] ''GovExec.com'', November 4, 2003. ===2004===*Peter H. Stone, [http://nationaljournal.com/about/njweekly/stories/2004/0327nj1.htm "K Street Stumble,"] ''National Journal'', March 27, 2004.*Jason Peckenpaugh, [http://www.govexec.com/features/0604-15/0604-15newsanalysis4.htm "Purchasing Power,"] ''GovExec.com'', September 15, 2004: "Where might David Safavian lead White House procurement policy?"*R. Jeffrey Smith, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55283-2004Sep27.html?nav=rss_nation "Foundation's Funds Diverted From Mission. Records Detail Spending By GOP Lobbyist Abramoff,"] ''Washington Post'', September 28, 2004. ===2005===*Stephen Barr, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24738-2005Jan20.html "Teaching Uncle Sam to Be a Better Buyer. New Procurement Administrator Will Oversee How Federal Contracts Are Awarded,"] ''Washington Post'', January 21, 2005.*[http://www.washingtontechnology.com/news/20_5/federal/25717-1.html "Have a (hot) seat. David Safavian jumps into fray as new head of federal procurement,"] ''Washington Technology'', March 7, 2005: "Safavian brings to the job an understanding of both public and private sectors, as well as of Congress. Before working at the Office of Management and Budget, he was chief of staff for GSA Administrator [[Stephen Perry]] and also worked for two congressmen."*[http://www.larouchepub.com/other/2005/3216_traveling_partnership.html "A Traveling Partnership,"] ''Executive Intelligence Review'', April 22, 2005.*[http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-05-06-abramoff-bush_x.htm "Controversial lobbyist had close contact with Bush team,"] Associated Press (''USA Today''), May 6, 2005: "At least two people who worked on Abramoff's team at Preston Gates wound up with Bush administration jobs: Patrick Pizzella, named an assistant secretary of labor by Bush; and David Safavian, chosen by Bush to oversee federal procurement policy in the Office of Management and Budget."*[http://projectusa.org/ezine/2005/05-24-abramoff_and_norquist.html "''New York Times'' barking up right tree, a Greece Palm. Story ties Abramoff to Norquist -- scandal expanding toward White House?"] ''Project USA'', May 24, 2005.*[http://whyareweback.blogspot.com/2005/09/abramoffs-homies.html "Abramoff's Homies,"] ''Why Are We Back in Iraq'' Blog, September 1, 2005.*Florence Olsen, [http://www.fcw.com/article90857-09-19-05-WebArticles & Commentary|Articles &RSS=yes "OFPP administrator, facing criminal charges, resigns,"Commentary] FCW.com, September 19, 2005.*[http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=53613 "Former GSA Official Charged with Making False Statements, Obstructing Federal Investigation,"] U.S. Newswire (Department of Justice), September 19, 2005.*Billmon, [http://billmon.org/archives/002171.html "Beyond Satire,"] ''Whiskey Bar'', September 19, 2005.*[http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Lobbyist-Probe.html "Former Bush Administration Official Charged,"] Associated Press (''New York Times''), September 20, 2005.*Mark Sherman, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/19/AR2005091901141.html "Former White House Official Arrested,"] Associated Press (''Washington Post''), September 19, 2005; also [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/20/politics/main860975.shtml "Obstruction Charge For Ex-WH Aide,"] AP (CBS News), September 20, 2005.*Philip Shenon and Anne E. Kornblut, [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/20/politics/20lobby.html?pagewanted=all "Ex-White House Aide Charged in Corruption Case,"] ''New York Times'', September 20, 2005.::Note: Safavian is being referred to by the AP, and repeated by the ''Washington Post'' and ''New York Times'', as being a "former" White House official, when, in fact, he resigned just before he was arrested.*Laura Rozen, [http://www.warandpiece.com/blogdirs/002643.html "White House OMB official David Safavian arrested, for allegedly obstructing a GSA investigation and making false statements concerning his ties to Jack Abramoff,"] ''War and Piece'', September 19, 2005.*[http://pogoblog.typepad.com/pogo/2005/09/top_procurement.html "Top Procurement Official Safavian Arrested,"] Project On Government Oversight, September 19, 2005.*[http://pogoblog.typepad.com/pogo/2005/09/safavian_the_lo.html "Safavian the Lobbyist,"] Project On Government Oversight, September 19, 2005.*[http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/5299.html "Abramoff's corruption spreads to the Bush administration,"] ''The Carpetbagger Report'', September 20, 2005.*[http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/092005/brief1.html "Abramoff associate arrested,"] ''The Hill'', September 20, 2005. *R. Jeffrey Smith and Susan Schmidt, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/19/AR2005091901859.html "Bush Official Arrested in Corruption Probe,"] ''Washington Post'', September 20, 2005.*Dan Froomkin, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2005/09/20/BL2005092000753_pf.html "Scandal Visits the White House,"] ''Washington Post'', September 20, 2005. *[http://pogoblog.typepad.com/pogo/2005/09/safavians_wife_.html "Safavian's Wife's Recusal Policy,"] Project On Government Oversight, September 20, 2005.*John Byrne, [http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Email_from_arrested_White_House_official_suggests_powerful_congressman_lied_about_0920.html "Email from arrested White House official suggests powerful congressman lied about trip,"] ''The Raw Story'', September 20, 2005.*[http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/09/20/lobbyist.probe.ap/ "FBI: Former administration official obstructed lobbyist probe. Budget aide allegedly hid ties to Abramoff,"] Associated Press (CNN), September 20, 2005.*[http://www.buzzflash.com/alerts/05/09/ale05142.html "David Safavian: An 'Old Friend' of Abramoff's,"] ''BuzzFlash'' Alert, September 20, 2005.*Mike Disharoon, [http://blog.dccc.org/mt/archives/003568.html "The Stakeout: David Safavian Special Edition,"] ''The Stakeholder'', September 20, 2005. Provides a good overview of some of the issues which will emerge regarding Safavian's OMB position and actions.*[http://www.americanprogressaction.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter2.asp?c=klLWJcP7H&b=917053#3 "Top Bush Official Arrested in Corruption Probe,"] ''The Progress Report'', September 20, 2005.*[http://blog.dccc.org/mt/archives/003574.html "Pelosi on Safavian,"] DCCC Blog, September 20, 2005.*[http://thinkprogress.org/2005/09/20/safavian-school "The School Safavian and Abramoff Built,"] ''Think Progress'', September 20, 2005.
[[category:corruption]][[category:scandals]][[category:politics]]
