Congressmen Seek Probe of Procurement Policy Chief Six Democratic congressmen have asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate the activities of David Safavian, the Bush administration’s former procurement policy chief, who was arrested Sept. 19. The principal author of the letter, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), is a leading critic of the administration’s competitive sourcing initiative, which Safavian oversaw. Safavian is charged with obstructing a criminal investigation of a prominent lobbyist, Jack Abramoff, and lying to investigators about his dealings with Abramoff when he was chief of staff of the General Services Administration. His lawyer has said he will fight the charges. The congressmen asked GAO to “conduct a comprehensive investigation of all of the matters where Mr. Safavian became directly or indirectly involved to ensure that the public trust was not violated and that other important and costly government programs were not compromised.” “American taxpayers deserve the assurance that the government officials charged with overseeing the spending of their tax dollars are conducting our nation’s business with the highest of ethical standards,” Van Hollen said in a statement. “Mr. Safavian’s arrest rocks the core of this confidence.” The letter was also signed by Reps. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Lane Evans (D-IL), William Delahunt (D-MA) and Gene Taylor (D-MS). Although some published reports described Safavian as the top federal procurement official, his duties at OFPP involved setting policy, not awarding or managing contracts. In one of his last acts before his resignation and arrest, he co-wrote a policy memo setting guidelines for emergency purchases for hurricane relief. (SAA, 9/23) The criminal charges against him stem from a golfing vacation in Scotland in 2002 with lobbyist Abramoff and others. According to an FBI affidavit, Safavian told GSA’s ethics office that Abramoff was offering him a free trip and that the lobbyist had no business with GSA. But the FBI alleged that, around the same time, Safavian was helping Abramoff in an attempt to acquire two pieces of property controlled by GSA. In an e-mail message cited by the FBI, Abramoff told his wife not to use her married name when she met with GSA officials about one real estate transaction. Abramoff said that suggestion came from “David.” The FBI affidavit did not name Abramoff, but published reports said the events it related could only refer to him. Safavian said he later reimbursed Abramoff $3,100 for the Scotland trip. Safavian’s lawyer, Barbara Van Gelder, told The New York Times, “I don’t believe that setting up meetings to figure out whether or not there is property available is doing business.” She said federal prosecutors may have ordered Safavian’s arrest in the hope of coercing him to cooperate in their investigation of Abramoff. Abramoff is under criminal investigation for his lobbying activities on behalf of Indian casinos. Some of his tribal clients have accused him of bilking them out of millions of dollars. He was indicted in Miami in August on unrelated charges of fraud and conspiracy in connection with his purchase of casino ships. He has pleaded not guilty. Abramoff and Safavian once worked together at a Washington law and lobbying firm, according to the FBI affidavit. He also served on the staffs of several Republican congressmen and operated his own lobbying firm before joining the Bush administration.