From the ArcaMax Publishing, Religious News Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/religiousnews/s-364951-770495
A U.S. federal appeals court has ordered a new trial for a former
White House aide linked to the scandal surrounding disgraced lobbyist
Jack Abramoff.
A three-judge panel of U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia tossed David Safavian's conviction on charges of lying to an
ethics officer at the General Services Administration -- where
Safavian was chief of staff -- and to an investigator for the GSA's
inspector general, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.
The unanimous panel ruled that Safavian was not legally obligated to
disclose details of his dealings with Abramoff when asking the GSA's
ethics officer about accepting free air fare for a golf excursion.
Safavian was convicted in June 2006 of covering up efforts to assist
Abramoff in attaining two GSA-controlled properties. He also was
convicted of concealing information about a swank golf trip to
Scotland and London with Abramoff.
The convictions must be dismissed, the court said, because "the
government cites no regulation or form or statute" that officials must
disclose everything to ethics officials or investigators.
The court sent Safavian's convictions on obstruction back to U.S.
district court for potential retrial. A spokeswoman for the Justice
Department said prosecutors were reviewing the court's decision.