1st Trial in Lobbying Scandal Goes to Jury (Abramoff related)

[NVMojo]

WASHINGTON (AP) -

A federal court jury began deliberations Tuesday morning on whether former Bush administration official David Safavian concealed from ethics officials and investigators that he assisted Republican influence-peddler Jack Abramoff's efforts to obtain two government properties.

Although Safavian's trial was the first to emerge from the Abramoff scandal, the disgraced lobbyist and former business partner of Safavian was never called to testify, a point Safavian's defense attorney emphasized to the jury in closing arguments Monday.

U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman sent the case to the jury of 10 women and two men Tuesday morning after briefly reminding them of his key instructions from the day before.

The defense characterized the trial as a clear case of prosecutorial excess, but the government depicted Safavian as an ethically challenged public servant trying serve two masters.

more...

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat-gen/2006/jun/13/061306633.html

[cosmicdot]

1. kick n/m