Safavian Files Notice of Appeal
By Robert Brodsky
The fight may not be over yet for David Safavian.
The former head of federal procurement policy during the Bush administration filed a notice of appeal Wednesday, contesting his 2008 conviction for lying about his dealings with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Safavian was sentenced last week to one year and one day in prison and 24 months of supervised probation.
At this point, the notice of appeal is a formality. U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman informed Safavian's attorneys last week that they had 10 days to file the necessary paperwork if they were going to appeal the conviction.
However, sources close to Safavian, who previously served as chief of staff at the General Services Administration, said he has yet conclusively make up his mind about challenging verdict. Safavian was successful in a 2008 appeal of an earlier conviction on related charges. He was retried and found guilty on four of five charges last year.
In all likelihood, Safavian has several months to decide. Friedman ruled last week that Safavian did not have to surrender until after his wife, Jennifer, gives birth.
Earlier this week, Safavian's attorneys filed paperwork requesting that his sentence be delayed until at least June 18, 2010, allowing him to witness the birth of his second child and to assist his wife in caring for the infant in the first weeks of his or her life. Friedman has not ruled on that request as of yet.
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Government Executive Staff Correspondent Alyssa Rosenberg takes a look at news affecting the management and operations of the massive federal bureaucracy.
Alyssa, would you please report on how you can be convicted of "lying" over an incident that was itself found not criminal. Federal employees and our new political appointees might need to know that Safavian was not convicted of any crime. And while you're at it, please explan how American justice is served by sending a dismissed conviction that was accompanied by all sorts of Appeals Court judical reprimands back to the very same judge - Judge Paul Fiedman. Does that sound right to you? My sense is that judge Fiedman, the Clinton-appointed Judge who dismissed or tried to dismiss (and was then reversed) a number of cases against Clinton/Gore friends (Google him), has found a Bush appointee small enough to fry. Paybacks are hell and my Democratic friends.
Larry Posted Thursday, October 22, 2009 1:34 PMHasnt this guy gone thru enough??? I want to know how much was spent on this silly case.
Tom Paine Posted Thursday, October 22, 2009 2:23 PMThis really is a ridiculous use of taxpayer dollars and absurd to destroy this man's life for what are possible omissions about something that was determined not to be against the law. Absolutely ridiculous.
mark Posted Sunday, October 25, 2009 3:02 PM