United States v. Safavian

RANDOLPH, Circuit Judge:

A jury convicted David H. Safavian of three counts of concealing material facts and making false statements in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(1) and one count of obstructing justice in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1505. 1 The prosecution arose from investigations into a golfing trip he took with lobbyist Jack Abramoff in August 2002 while Safavian was chief of staff of the General Services Administration. We reverse on all counts.

I

The evidence, viewed most favorably to the government, showed as follows. Safa-vian and Abramoff met in 1994 when Safa-vian joined a law firm…