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Safavian convicted again in Abramoff scandal

A former Bush administration official has been convicted for lying about his relationship with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Abramoff Safavian
Former Bush administration official David Safavian has again been found guilty of obstruction and making false statements to investigators about disgraced Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff.Charles Dharapak / AP file
/ Source: The Associated Press

A former Bush administration official has been convicted for lying about his relationship with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

It was the second time David Safavian had been convicted by a jury in the Abramoff lobbying scandal. Safavian's first conviction was overturned on appeal.

Safavian was found guilty of obstruction and making false statements to investigators. Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

He was convicted of trying to hide his relationship with Abramoff and his participation in Abramoff's now-famous golf junket to Scotland with members of Congress.

The former chief of staff for the General Services Administration is the only person in the scandal to take his case to trial.