Key OMB official arrested

David Safavian, who was chief of procurement policy in the Bush administration's Office of Management and Budget until late last week, was arrested Monday on charges of making false statements and obstructing a federal investigation.

Safavian is charged with making false statements to a General Services Administration ethics officer and the GSA inspector general's office. Safavian served as chief of staff at GSA before moving to OMB. Safavian resigned as head of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy effective Friday, an OMB spokesman said. Robert Burton, associate administrator of OFPP, will head the office on an interim basis, the spokesman said.

The Justice Department announced that Safavian "allegedly aided a Washington, D.C., lobbyist in the lobbyist's attempts to acquire GSA-controlled property in and around Washington, D.C.," and that Safavian joined the lobbyist on a Scotland golf trip.

Safavian allegedly misled GSA officials when he said the lobbyist "had no business" with GSA prior to the golf trip, when in fact Safavian had helped the lobbyist "in his attempts to do business with GSA," Justice said. The lobbyist, though not named in the Justice announcement, is likely Jack Abramoff, a Washington lobbyist who has been the subject of a long-running federal investigation. In August 2002, Safavian joined Abramoff, Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed and others on a trip to St. Andrews, Scotland.

The Washington Post reported last year that the expenses for the chartered jet that ferried the group to Scotland were paid by the Capital Athletic Foundation, a charity run by Abramoff and his wife.

OMB referred all questions about Safavian to Justice officials.

Clay Johnson, deputy director for management at OMB, convened a meeting Monday morning to inform agency employees of Safavian's arrest, according to a government source who asked to remain anonymous. Johnson told staff members to support Safavian's family, and cautioned them against responding to him should he attempt to contact them, the source said.

During his confirmation hearings for his position as OFPP chief, Safavian said he worked as a lobbyist and consultant for a variety of organizations, including the Embassy of Pakistan, Microsoft and several Native American groups.

Safavian also has strong ties to Capitol Hill. Before joining GSA, he served as chief of staff to Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, and also has worked for former Michigan House members William Schuette and Robert Davis, both Republicans.

Amelia Gruber contributed to this report.