Safavian takes the stand, defends actions

Volz complained later that career GSA officials wanted to know why a staff member for Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., wanted the data. Volz said they wanted to keep the transfer secret to avoid rousing opposition.

Safavian testified he told Volz he couldn’t give him that detailed data but GSA is required to respond to Congress “which calls all the time.”

He said he told Volz he “wanted to stay in the background” because that’s the easiest response “when someone asks for something and you don’t want to do it.”

Safavian also acknowledged advising Abramoff about the Old Post Office near the White House which Abramoff wanted to have one of his Indian tribe clients redevelop as a luxury hotel across the street from a restaurant Abramoff owned.

He told Abramoff that tribes were eligible for preferences in contracts and advised the lobbyist: “You will need to ramp up on this” provision of law.

On stand, disputed Volz testimony
Safavian defended the advice on grounds Abramoff was “gathering information.” He said he did not consider this doing business with GSA because “GSA had no intention of doing anything at that time. The decision on whether GSA would be allowed to redevelop had not been made.”

Safavian also disputed Volz’ testimony that after the FBI contacted him about the trip he told Volz, who also went along, “we all have to stick together.”

“I do not recall saying that to Mr. Volz,” Safavian testified.

Earlier, Safavian’s wife, Jennifer, testified she felt a sense of relief about having paid $3,100 when questions about the trip were raised in 2005 by Senate investigators. “I said it’s a good thing you paid for it,” she recalled telling her husband.

Abramoff entered guilty pleas early this year to fraud, corruption, tax evasion and conspiracy charges in Washington and Florida.

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