David Safavian, the former Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy who was arrested on Monday based upon a three-count criminal complaint, may have answered the questions posed by the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee in a misleading way.
The form questionnaire completed by David Safavian on February 9, 2004, asked the following question:
"To your knowledge, have you even been investigated, arrested, charged or convicted (including pleas of guilty or nolo contendre) by any federal, State, or other law enforcement authority for violation of any federal, State, county or municipal law, other than a minor traffic offense? If so, provide details."
Mr. Safavian's response, on the flip.
Mr. Safavian responded:
"I have never been arrested, charged or convicted of any violation of law outside of minor traffic violations."
A sharp-eyed Senate Governmental Affairs Committee staff member should have noted that David Safavian did not respond to the portion of the question regarding investigations. Did Mr. Safavian inadvertently fail to respond or did he try to mislead the Committee?
The affidavit of FBI Special Agent Jeffrey Resiging filed in connection with Mr. Safavian's arrest alleges that Mr. Safavian was "investigated" regarding a golf outing with "Lobbyist A" (identified by the press as Jack Abramhoff) while Mr. Safavian was Chief of Staff of the General Services Administration.
The FBI affidavit states:
"On March 26, 2003, an anonymous tipster made a hotline complaint to GSA-OIG regarding SAFAVIAN's participation in an "international golfing trip provided by lobbyists." In March and April 2003, a GSA-OIG Regional Inspector General for Investigations questioned SAFAVIAN about the trip. SAFAVIAN falsely represented to GSA-OIG that Lobbyist A had no business with GSA prior to the August 2002 golf trip and SAFAVIAN omitted the fact that he was aiding Lobbyist A in Lobbyist A's attempts to do business with GSA and seek official action from GSA."