Ex-official pleads innocent to charges (for * admin: Safavian)

[sabra]

http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/living/education/higher_learning/12844397.htm

Ex-official pleads innocent to charges


Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration's former chief procurement official pleaded innocent Friday to charges that he made false statements and obstructed investigations into high-powered Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment Wednesday, charging David H. Safavian with obstructing Senate and executive branch investigations into whether he aided Abramoff in efforts to acquire property around the nation's capital controlled by the General Services Administration.

Safavian entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment in U.S. District Court in Washington. He was accompanied by his wife at the court proceeding, which lasted less than 10 minutes.

Safavian's lawyer, Barbara Van Gelder, said the charges against Safavian hinge on statements made by Abramoff in e-mails. But because Abramoff is the subject of a wide-ranging federal investigation of his lobbying activities and is unlikely to testify against Safavian, prosecutors will be unable to use those statements against Safavian, Van Gelder told reporters following the arraignment.

[underpants]

1. It's not a lie if you believe it is the truth

Was that wrong?

[gratuitous]

2. Van Gelder seems pretty sure Abramoff won't testify against Safavian

I wonder why?

Although the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur might just suffice for the e-mails, and Abramoff won't need to testify. Van Gelder might be reduced to such arguments as what the definition of "is" is, or how some situation was "fixed" doesn't really mean it was crooked.

Good luck, Ms. Van Gelder. You'll probably earn your fee on this one, because federal judges aren't quite as stupid as the typical Bush voter.

[shraby]

3. This is better than a guilty plea....now evidence

will be put out into the open that people otherwise wouldn't see. A pandora's box will be opened.