Former White House official David Safavian was found guilty Tuesday of obstructing justice and lying to federal investigators about his relationship with ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The verdict gives a boost to the government’s ongoing probe into the dealings of the one-time Washington power broker.
A federal jury found Safavian, who served as chief procurement officer at the Office of Management and Budget until last September, guilty on three counts of making false statements and one count of obstructing justice. The jury acquitted him on a second count of obstructing justice in connection with an investigation of Abramoff conducted by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. Safavian faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced this fall.
