May 22 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. government's probe of influence peddling linked to lobbyist Jack Abramoff, based largely on a trail of e-mails, gets its first courtroom test this week in the case of former White House official David Safavian.
Safavian, 38, goes on trial in a Washington courtroom on charges he concealed Abramoff's interest in government business when seeking permission to accept airfare for a Scotland golf trip from the lobbyist in 2002. Safavian is also accused of obstructing inquiries into the matter. He pleaded not guilty.
Abramoff has pled guilty to conspiracy to corrupt lawmakers and is cooperating with prosecutors. The Justice Department has also secured guilty pleas from three former congressional aides who worked for Republican Representatives Tom DeLay of Texas and Bob Ney of Ohio.
``This may be one of the rare times where the Justice Department has to lay out its whole case publicly,'' said Melanie Sloan, a former federal prosecutor who runs the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. ``It may be the only one where they ever go to trial.''
Abramoff, 47, promises to figure prominently in the trial though he may not actually testify. U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman granted a request by prosecutors Peter Zeidenberg and Nathaniel Edmonds to permit hundreds of e-mails written or received by Abramoff to be admitted as evidence. The judge excluded just 14 of the government's exhibits.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aqVyo4Z3w1Yk&refer=usThe Jefferson tapes were ten months old and released this week. Abramoff's E-Mails to be released this week. Coincidence?