Community | June 17, 2008 | 3 comments

Appeals Court throws out conviction in Abramoff scandal

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A U.S. appeals court today ordered a new trial for a former White House aide who was convicted on charges of lying and obstructing justice in the investigation of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

A three judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit this morning threw out David H. Safavian's conviction on charges of lying to an ethics officer at the General Services Administration, where he had been chief of staff, and an investigator for the GSA's inspector general.

Safavian was convicted in June 2006 of covering up his efforts to assist Abramoff in acquiring two properties controlled by the GSA, including the historic Old Post Office in the District. He also was convicted of concealing information about a lavish golfing excursion to Scotland and London with Abramoff in the summer of 2002. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison but has been free while he appealed.

Writing for the unanimous panel, Circuit Judge A. Raymond Randolph ruled that Safavian was under no legal obligation to disclose details of his dealings with Abramoff when he asked for an opinion from the GSA's ethics officer about accepting free air fare on a chartered jet for the golf vacation. He told the ethics official he was paying for his hotels, meals and greens fees.
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3 comments // Appeals Court throws out conviction in Abramoff scandal

  • WorldPeaceTV
    • 0
      WorldPeaceTV  
    • The guys guilty beyond a reasonable doubt! Why waste taxpayer money on this sham?? (Oh, I forgot, its a Bush cronie)

      Free while on bail, hmm. some people are locked up with bail they cannot afford for a crime alot less serious and fed bologna sandwiches every day for lunch, slop for dinner and barely a breakfast while being crucified for stealing a bike.

      Whats wrong with this system?

    • 3 years ago
  • onechance
  • Marilynn_Murray
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