David Safavian

David Hossein Safavian was nominated by President George W. Bush as Administrator, Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on January 22, 2004. He resigned Friday, September 16, 2005, and "Robert Burton, OFPP’s associate administrator, is now managing the office."

Indicted for Corruption
Until Safavian's arrest on September 19, 2005, for 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 connections to the Bush administration had been "relatively weak." [1]

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The Arrest

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 statement." [2]

"The Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal reached into the White House," Dan Froomkin 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 wrote in the September 20, 2005, Washington Post.

"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 wrote in the September 20, 2005, New York Times.

"And for a White House so desperate to build public confidence in its ability to respond to the Gulf Coast disaster," Froomkin added, "it doesn't exactly help that the man who up until Friday was overseeing contracting policy for the multi-billion dollar relief effort has now been charged with lying and obstructing a criminal investigation."

The FBI Affidavit

"The F.B.I. affidavit, which was dated Friday [September 16, 2005,] and made public on Monday, said that Mr. Safavian had provided extensive, secret assistance to Mr. Abramoff in 2002, when the lobbyist wanted help on behalf of a client to arrange a lease on favorable terms for the Old Post Office Building, which was controlled by the General Services Administration. The affidavit said the client was one of several Indian tribes that Mr. Abramoff has represented," Shenon and Kornblut wrote.

Note: "The GSA obtains all real estate, telecommunications, supplies, protection and security resources for more than a million federal workers in federal offices around the world." [3]

"The court papers said Mr. Abramoff had also sought Mr. Safavian's help in buying 40 acres at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in the Maryland suburbs of Washington to be the new home of a Jewish children's school that Mr. Abramoff had founded. That property was also under the control of the General Services Administration.

"Local real estate records suggest that neither property was acquired by Mr. Abramoff or his clients, despite his repeated requests for help in e-mail messages sent to a private account maintained by Mr. Safavian.

"The Justice Department affidavit said that even as Mr. Safavian was trying to help Mr. Abramoff in acquiring the government property in 2002, he was eagerly planning his summer golf trip with the lobbyist to Scotland. The F.B.I. affidavit also suggested Mr. Abramoff's motivation in inviting Mr. Safavian was clear. In an e-mail message, a lobbyist colleagues asked: 'Why dave? I like him but didn't know u did as much. Business angle?'," Shenon and Kornblut wrote.

Safavian's Connections

Josh Marshall of the Talking Points Memo blog has a theory: "Safavian was arrested with the intent of getting him to testify against Abramoff. The DOJ obviously thinks they've got a decent shot if they're targeting him specifically. Safavian's something of a GOP lobbyist Zelig, having ties to not only Jack Abramoff, but also Grover Norquist, Ralph Reed, Joe Allbaugh, Rep. Chris Cannon, and Rep. Bob Ney," Mike Disharoon wrote September 20, 2005.

"Like Mr. Abramoff, Mr. Safavian, a former Congressional aide, has extensive ties to prominent Republicans on Capitol Hill, throughout the executive branch and among the city's lobbying firms," Shenon and Kornblut wrote.

"He helped start Janus-Merritt Strategies, a consulting firm, with Grover G. Norquist, the head of the conservative advocacy group Americans for Tax Reform and a close political ally of the Bush administration.

"Mr. Safavian worked with Mr. Abramoff in the Washington lobbying offices of Preston Gates & Ellis, a Seattle-based firm. According to lobbying records, Mr. Safavian shared at least one client with Mr. Abramoff, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and also represented Microsoft, the Port of Seattle and the Dredging Contractors of America," Shenon and Kornblut wrote.

The Capital Athletic Foundation paid $120,000 in August 2002 for Abramoff, Ney [Rep. R-OH], Ralph Reed and then-General Services Administration Chief of Staff David Safavian to go to St. Andrews to play golf with a stop in London on way back. "Ney later claimed that the trip’s purpose was to raise money for a foundation, but there were no fundraising events during the course of the trip." [4]

"That the Bush Administration would turn the keys to the treasury over to this crew is beyond irresponsible. No one could be so blind as not to understand how utterly inappropriate it is that David Safavian is charged with overseeing the federal government's purchasing activities." [5]

Rooted in Gambling

In 2000, David Safavian was a lobbyist for CDM Sports. In October 2000, he addressed the Fantasy Sports Trade Association concerning internet gambling, particularly the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act sponsored by Rep. Jon Kyl (R-Arizona).

He reported that "carveout language that had been negotiated to protect the fantasy sports industry" had been removed and replaced, saying that "much of the new language was drafted and pushed by the NFL." Safavian told the association that it was "unlikely any bill will move forward in 2000 and early 2001. Safavian added that this is a very serious matter and whether the industry likes it or not, the members of the House see fantasy games as the gateway drug to gambling."

Related Links

• Courtney Macavinta, "Net gambling looks grim," CNET News (MSN), October 23, 1997. David Safavian represented Interactive Services Association, a group that opposed the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act sponsored by Rep. John Kyl.
• "Fantasy sports ban included in Net gambling bill," MSNBC (ZDNet), March 15, 1998: "David Safavian, a lobbyist for the Interactive Gaming Council, an industry trade group."
• Congressional Native American Caucus, 107th Congress, 1st Session, December 13, 2001. David Safavian listed as "Staff" for Chris Cannon (R-UT).
• Robert Gehrke, "Lawmaker's 'Net gambling motives questioned. Utah gaming opponent received political contributions from tribes with casinos," Associated Press (Las Vegas Sun), June 27, 2003: "Cannon's former chief of staff, David Safavian, was a lobbyist whose clients included the Interactive Gaming Council, the National Indian Gaming Association and gaming tribes."
• Freedom of Information Act Request to FOIA Officer, National Indian Gaming Commission, from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), March 15, 2005: Requests information dating from after January 1, 2001, to present regarding "any contact" between named individuals and the Commission. Among those listed in the request are David Safavian.
• Complaint for Declaratory Judgment and Injunctive Relief: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington versus National Indian Gaming Commission, re violation of FOIA Request, April 18, 2005.
• John Byrne, "Beyond Abramoff: Gambling lobbyist joined with anti-gambling congressman, derailed gambling bills," The Raw Story, September 1, 2005: Safavian 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."
• "Utah congressman hired ex-Abramoff associate," Indianz.com, September 2, 2005.

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 reported in the September 21, 2005, Washington Post.

Washington Whispers (US News & World Report) reported September 13, 2004:

"A nominee to a key government procurement post has troubled some on Capitol Hill because of his ties to alleged Islamic 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 Abdurahman Alamoudi, who pleaded [sic] guilty this summer to aiding a Libyan plot to assassinate Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Abdullah and was accused by prosecutors of having ties to al Qaeda. Safavian, however, said he never lobbied for Alamoudi. The real client was a man named Jamal al Barzinji, but that's not much better. A 2002 federal affidavit names Barzinji as the leader of a group suspected of aiding terrorists. Safavian told the Senate his work was limited only to pitching the firm to Barzinji."

Related Links

• Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., "A Troubling Influence" and "A Troubling Influence, Con't.," Front Page Magazine, December 9, 2003.
• Susan Schmidt and R. Jeffrey Smith, "Aide Was Reticent on Lobbying for Foreign Clients," Washington Post, September 21, 2005.

Profiteering

"The Senate Office of Public Records has Safavian's lobby filing forms online (here are Abramoff's). Besides representing numerous Indian gaming interests involved in scandals, Safavian and Abramoff both had Shaw Environmental and Infrastructure (part of the Shaw Group) as a client, which is now represented by former FEMA chief and 2000 Bush-Cheney campaign manager Joe Allbaugh. (Shaw is now winning post-Katrina reconstruction contracts.)," the Project On Government Oversight reported September 19, 2005.

Lack of Credentials

The Progress Report called Safavian "the Mike Brown of contract procurement," referring to Michael D. Brown, the recently exposed and recently resigned/fired director of FEMA.

"The former lobbyist and Capitol Hill staffer was handpicked by President Bush to oversee federal procurement policy,... Criticized by some for lacking a background in procurement policy, he will have to prove himself as he tackles highly contentious issues such as competitive sourcing, disadvantaged businesses and suspension and disbarment procedures," Nick Wakeman wrote January 10, 2005, in Washington Technology.

"Here's the story in a nutshell," The Carpetbagger Report reported September 20, 2005:

Despite not having any relevant experience, Safavian was tapped to be the most powerful procurement official in the federal government, where he proceeded to do secret favors for Abramoff, his former employer. When a General Services Administration ethics officer asked about his surreptitious activities, Safavian lied about it.

"And just to make this story truly hilarious, also consider the fact Safavian's wife is — get this — the chief counsel for oversight and investigations on the House Government Reform Committee. And what does that committee do? It oversees government procurement.

"A few months ago, in an interview with Federal Times newspaper that focuses on the workings of the federal government, Safavian said, 'T]he best advice I've gotten was from my grandfather and that advice is that you've got to have ethics and integrity in everything you do, especially here in D.C.'

"If this were fiction, I'd find it hard to accept because it's too outlandish. And yet, this is all real. Bush's America is a very strange place indeed."

Nomination & Confirmation

Safavian was confirmed November 21, 2004, replacing Angela Styles, "who stepped down to return to the private sector in September 2003. Robert Burton had been acting OFPP administrator while Safavian awaited Senate confirmation." [6]

"His nomination was held up, along with about 150 others last year, by Senate Democrats who objected to a number of administration policies." [7]

Related Links

• Nomination Hearing for David Safavian, April 29, 2004, U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs. Statement by David Safavian, April 29, 2004.
• "Confirmation of Administrator for Office of Federal Procurement Policy Vital for Government Efficiency and Accountability," The Performance Institute, April 29, 2004.
• Jason Miller, "Senate confirms Safavian to lead OFPP," Washington Technology, November 23, 2004.

Related SourceWatch Resources

• Bush administration scandals
• outsourcing
• Republican 'culture of corruption'
• Susan B. Ralston

External Links

Profiles

• The President & His Leadership Team: "David Safavian -- General Services Administration, Chief of Staff of the General Services Administration," White House Appointee Directory.
• "Abramoff-Reed Indian Gambling Scandal" in the Wikipedia.
• Linda Norlock, "David and Jennifer Safavian Apply Legal Knowledge to Public Service in Washington," Amicus Online, Summer 2002.
• Melissa Brown, "Inside the Beltway," The Ile Camera, March 11, 2005.
• Steve Kelman, "Leadership, at long last. Safavian understands the needs of and threats to a value-oriented system," FCW.com, April 25, 2005.
• Campaign Contributions: "David H. Safavian, indicted for corruption" Newsmeat.

Documents

• Press Release: "President to Name David H. Safavian Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy, Office of Management and Budget," White House, November 4, 2003.
• 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, "GSA official nominated to be federal procurement chief," GovExec.com, November 4, 2003.

2004

• Peter H. Stone, "K Street Stumble," National Journal, March 27, 2004.
• Jason Peckenpaugh, "Purchasing Power," GovExec.com, September 15, 2004: "Where might David Safavian lead White House procurement policy?"
• R. Jeffrey Smith, "Foundation's Funds Diverted From Mission. Records Detail Spending By GOP Lobbyist Abramoff," Washington Post, September 28, 2004.

2005

• Stephen Barr, "Teaching Uncle Sam to Be a Better Buyer. New Procurement Administrator Will Oversee How Federal Contracts Are Awarded," Washington Post, January 21, 2005.
• "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."
• "A Traveling Partnership," Executive Intelligence Review, April 22, 2005.
• "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."
• "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.
• Anton Chaitkin, "Abramoff Indictment Makes Bush Regime a Fat Target," Executive Intelligence Review, August 26, 2005.
• "Abramoff's Homies," Why Are We Back in Iraq Blog, September 1, 2005.
• Florence Olsen, "OFPP administrator, facing criminal charges, resigns," FCW.com, September 19, 2005.
• "Former GSA Official Charged with Making False Statements, Obstructing Federal Investigation," U.S. Newswire (Department of Justice), September 19, 2005.
• Billmon, "Beyond Satire," Whiskey Bar, September 19, 2005.
• "Former Bush Administration Official Charged," Associated Press (New York Times), September 20, 2005.
• Mark Sherman, "Former White House Official Arrested," Associated Press (Washington Post), September 19, 2005; also "Obstruction Charge For Ex-WH Aide," AP (CBS News), September 20, 2005.
• Philip Shenon and Anne E. Kornblut, "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, "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.
• "Top Procurement Official Safavian Arrested," Project On Government Oversight, September 19, 2005.
• "Safavian the Lobbyist," Project On Government Oversight, September 19, 2005.
• "Abramoff's corruption spreads to the Bush administration," The Carpetbagger Report, September 20, 2005.
• "Abramoff associate arrested," The Hill, September 20, 2005.
• R. Jeffrey Smith and Susan Schmidt, "Bush Official Arrested in Corruption Probe," Washington Post, September 20, 2005.
• Dan Froomkin, "Scandal Visits the White House," Washington Post, September 20, 2005.
• "Safavian's Wife's Recusal Policy," Project On Government Oversight, September 20, 2005.
• John Byrne, "Email from arrested White House official suggests powerful congressman lied about trip," The Raw Story, September 20, 2005.
• "FBI: Former administration official obstructed lobbyist probe. Budget aide allegedly hid ties to Abramoff," Associated Press (CNN), September 20, 2005.
• "David Safavian: An 'Old Friend' of Abramoff's," BuzzFlash Alert, September 20, 2005.
• Mike Disharoon, "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.
• "Top Bush Official Arrested in Corruption Probe," The Progress Report, September 20, 2005.
• "Pelosi on Safavian," DCCC Blog, September 20, 2005.
• "The School Safavian and Abramoff Built," Think Progress, September 20, 2005.
• Susan Schmidt and R. Jeffrey Smith, "Aide Was Reticent on Lobbying for Foreign Clients," Washington Post, September 21, 2005.
• Josh Marshall, "Start the Abramoff conflict-of-interest discussion here," The Hill, September 22, 2005.
• Michael Isikoff, "A Washington Sand Trap. A golf outing trips up a widening circle of power brokers," Newsweek, posted September 25, 2005 (October 3, 2005 issue).