Top Procurement Official Safavian Arrested
David Safavian, head of the obscure, but extremely important Office of Federal Procurement Policy was arrested today (September 19, 2005) and charged with making false statements and obstruction of a federal investigation. While working at GSA, the Department of Justice Press Release states, “he allegedly aided a Washington D.C. lobbyist in the lobbyist's attempts to acquire GSA-controlled property in and around Washington, D.C. In August 2002, this lobbyist [likely Jack Abramoff] allegedly took Safavian and others on a golf trip to Scotland.
“The false statement and obstruction of the investigation charges relate to Safavian's statements to a GSA ethics officer and the GSA-OIG that the lobbyist had no business with GSA prior to the August 2002 golf trip.”
The press release doesn’t even bother to mention until the fifth paragraph that Mr. Safavian is in charge of guiding government-wide acquisition policy as head of the OFPP, a department of the White House’s Office of Management and Budget.
Recently, POGO has been critical of the purchase card program that Safavian has vehemently defended.
Are you serious with that comment? How about a standard where you don't lie to investigators? Is that too high?
Posted on: Sep 25, 2005 at 12:55 PM
Yes, yes, Abramoff took Safavian on an expensive golfing trip abroad. A trip that Safavian paid for entirely out of his own pocket (the affidavit confirms this). What type of ethical standard are we aiming for when we arrest a government official for going on a personal trip that he paid (and took unpaid leave) for?
Posted on: Sep 23, 2005 at 12:44 AM