David Safavian, a former White House official who used to work with Jack Abramoff, has a hearing in federal court in Washington, D.C,. this afternoon.

Safavian used to work at the White House Office of Management and budget. Before that, he was chief of staff at the General Services Administration when he joined Abramoff on a golf outing to Scotland.

Prior to working for the Bush administration, Safavian had his own lobbying firm whose clients included the National Indian Gaming Association and some gaming tribes. He got his start working with Abramoff at the Preston Gates law firm.

Safavian was charged with lying to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and to federal investigators about his dealings with Abramoff. When he was at the GSA, he was being lobbied by Abramoff on two different matters, something that prosecutors say he kept from them.

At today's hearing, before Judge Paul L. Friedman at 2pm at the federal district court [Link], Safavian will argue for the charges to be dismissed. Otherwise a trial is scheduled to start April 18.

Get the Story:
Hearing Friday for Abramoff associate (NBC News 3/23)

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