E-Mails Cited in Lobbyist, Bush Aide Ties

[Eugene]

E-Mails Cited in Lobbyist, Bush Aide Ties


Saturday April 15, 2006 12:46 AM

By MARK SHERMAN

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - A batch of 278 e-mails between lobbyist Jack Abramoff
and a Bush administration official show a highly inappropriate relationship
where gifts and business interests mixed freely and frequently, federal
prosecutors said Friday.

The prosecutors hope to use the e-mails in the criminal case against David Safavian,
who is accused of lying and obstruction of justice in connection with investigations
of an Abramoff-sponsored golf outing to Scotland in August 2002.

The e-mails show that Abramoff and Safavian, then chief of staff at the General Services
Administration, were in frequent contact, played golf often and traded workplace gossip.
Abramoff showered Safavian with offers of meals, invitations to parties as well as the trip
to the fabled St. Andrew's golf course in Scotland.

<snip>

At the same time, Abramoff is peppering Safavian with questions and requests for his help
on a variety of projects, including obtaining parcels of federal land that were managed
by GSA for Abramoff's charitable groups.

<snip>

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5756543,00.html