New Trial for Figure in Abramoff Case
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Nicholas F. Benton: Deeper Abramoff Tie to White House
The New York Times
June 17, 2008
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 11:56 a.m. ET
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The first Bush administration official convicted in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal is entitled to a new trial, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.
David Safavian, the former chief of staff for the General Services Administration, was convicted of lying to investigators about his relationship with Abramoff, the disgraced lobbyist who has admitted bribing government officials. Safavian was sentenced to 18 months in prison but the sentence was put on hold while the appeal played out.
''David Safavian has been destroyed by this,'' attorney Barbara Van Gelder, who defended Safavian at trial, said Tuesday. ''He has been debarred. He's been unemployable and he's been seen as a villain. This is vindication.'
--MORE--
Nicholas F. Benton: Deeper Abramoff Tie to White House
The New York Times
June 17, 2008
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 11:56 a.m. ET
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The first Bush administration official convicted in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal is entitled to a new trial, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.
David Safavian, the former chief of staff for the General Services Administration, was convicted of lying to investigators about his relationship with Abramoff, the disgraced lobbyist who has admitted bribing government officials. Safavian was sentenced to 18 months in prison but the sentence was put on hold while the appeal played out.
''David Safavian has been destroyed by this,'' attorney Barbara Van Gelder, who defended Safavian at trial, said Tuesday. ''He has been debarred. He's been unemployable and he's been seen as a villain. This is vindication.'
--MORE--