So, the guy who oversees federal contracts gets arrested. Turns out he's a good buddy of Jack "Love Me Some Tom DeLay" Abramoff. As he was on the job through last week he must've had a hand in setting the Katrina procurement procedures, including allowing people to go ahead and charge up to $250,000 at a time on their credit cards. He's also, well, another hack with no experience in his field.
Mr. Safavian's wife? Oh, that's Jennifer Safavian. Her job? Chief counsel on oversight and investigations on the House Government Reform Committee. Their latest job? Heading up the sham Katrina investigation...
The Washington Post has more on Mr. Safavian. Also, the Federal Times (November 10, 2003) reported (available on Lexis.com):
If nominee David Safavian is confirmed by the Senate to oversee federal procurement policy at the Office of Management and Budget, one of those in Congress responsible for overseeing him would be his wife, a top aide on the House Government Reform Committee.
Safavian is married to Jennifer Safavian, who serves as the committee's chief counsel for oversight and investigations. The committee, chaired by Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., oversees federal procurement. Davis spokesman David Marin said the congressman welcomed Safavian's nomination as federal procurement policy administrator at the Office of Management and Budget and anticipates a productive relationship.
To avoid a conflict of interest, Federal Times reports,
Safavian’s wife, Jennifer McLaughlin Safavian, serves under House Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., as chief counsel for oversight and investigations. To avoid any conflict of interest, she has entered into an agreement with the committee that would recuse her from any pending business dealing with procurement policy.
To be fair, the article also notes that Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) endorsed Mr. Safavian for the job.
