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252:, a Muslim activist, was erroneously listed as a client of the firm in disclosure forms. (al-Amoudi was subsequently arrested for conspiring with the Libyan government.) Questioned on this in 2004 as part of his confirmation hearing in the Senate, Safavian pointed out that the listing of al-Amoudi was in error and was corrected in 2001, nearly three years prior. Janus-Merritt's client was actually
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In 2014, Safavian was hired as an adjunct professor at the
Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies, where he taught ethics in the graduate level real estate program for two years. He had his D.C. Bar License restored in 2017 after a number of his former students wrote to the DC Bar on his behalf.
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Upon leaving prison, Safavian used his experience to lecture at graduate business schools on ethics and criminal justice. He gave lectures at
Colgate, Georgetown, George Washington University, George Mason University, Johns Hopkins University, Loyola University Maryland, Villanova, and Virginia Tech.
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Safavian has become active in advocacy for improving the criminal justice system. His focus has been on increasing accountability for the system's results, improving the re-entry process, and fostering public safety. Washingtonian
Magazine named him one of the most impactful advocates for Criminal
301:
and obstructing investigations into his dealings with Jack
Abramoff while serving as chief of staff for the General Services Administration. His trial started May 25, 2006. He was convicted on four of five felony counts of lying and obstruction on June 20. Because Safavian's defense was unfairly
268:
Upon completion of his clerkship, Safavian went to work for the international law and lobbying firm, Preston, Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Mead as a tax lobbyist. He was supervised by Jack
Abramoff. Safavian left the firm to open up Janus-Merritt Strategies in 1996. In 2000, he was hired as the
264:
Safavian first moved to
Washington, DC in 1989. He interned for Michigan Congressman Robert W. Davis (R-MI). His first paid position was as a legislative correspondent with Congressman Bill Schuette (R-MI). When Schuette lost the 1990 race for U.S. Senate against incumbent Carl Levin, Safavian
57:
unanimously reversed
Safavian's convictions based on trial errors, and ordered a new trial. On December 19, 2008, at his retrial, Safavian was convicted again of 18 USC 1001. He was sentenced to a year in prison. Safavian lost his license to practice law as a result of the conviction but was
265:
entered law school. He graduated three years later, fifth in his class. After finishing law school, he accepted a position as law clerk to the
Honorable Paul J. Komives, a United States Magistrate Judge in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
175:
Safavian is the son of
Micheal Safavian, a US citizen of Persian heritage who served in the United States Army as a surgeon. His mother, Karen Safavian, was born in Wyandotte, Michigan and worked for the Ford Motor Company. David Safavian grew up in
244:, another member, was the activist group led by Norquist. An October 12, 2006, Senate Finance Committee report concluded that most of these organizations abused their tax-exempt status through participation in such lobbying through the Coalition.
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limited, the court overturned all four convictions. Double jeopardy was applied to at least one charge and an additional specification. This left only three of the original five charges for which the prosecution could retry
Safavian.
240:, the Interactive Services Association, the Small Business Survival Committee, and the United States Internet Council. Some coalition members—the Interactive Services Association, for one—were also independent clients of Safavian.
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Safavian was retried and convicted of making false statements under 18 USC 1001. On October 16, 2009 he was sentenced to a year in prison for making false statements about his association with Jack Abramoff by U.S. District Judge
53:, when he was arrested and charged with crimes in connection with the Abramoff corruption scandal. He was convicted on four of five charges on October 27, 2006, and sentenced to 18 months in prison. However, on June 17, 2008, the
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Leading up to the 2000 election, Janus-Merritt Strategies, a lobbying firm of which Safavian was a partner, did coalition work with Arab and Muslim groups, in hope of generating political support for Republicans.
42:, having worked with the lobbyist on the Mississippi Band of Choctaw account. After serving with Abramoff as a lobbyist, in 1997 Safavian co-founded lobbying firm Janus-Merritt Strategies with Republican activist
54:
196:(it is sometimes referred to as "Janus Merritt" or simply "Janus"). The firm promoted Republican ideology. "We represent clients who really do have an interest in a smaller federal government," Safavian told
224:
In 1999, Safavian founded the Internet Consumer Choice Coalition, a non-profit organized to oppose a bill to make online gambling a federal crime; the bill was drafted by Republican Arizona US Senator
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chief of staff to Congressman Chris Cannon (R-UT). In 2002, Safavian joined the Bush Administration as a political appointee at the General Services Administration. On November 4, 2003, President
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in a 1997 interview. "We're all very ideologically driven, and have a bias in favor of free markets." He continued: "We're not letting people who offer us money change our principles."
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is an American former lawyer who worked as a congressional aide, lobbyist, and later as a political appointee in the George W. Bush administration. A
344:(2014). He has had more than 60 op-eds published in newspapers around the country on topics ranging from crime policy to healthcare and politics.
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581:"Trump commutes sentence of ex-Illinois Gov. Blagojevich, pardons ex-NY police commissioner Kerik, ex-49ers owner DeBartolo — and Michael Milken"
382:"Trump commutes sentence of ex-Illinois Gov. Blagojevich, pardons ex-NY police commissioner Kerik, ex-49ers owner DeBartolo – and Michael Milken"
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310:. Friedman deferred the prison reporting date to allow Safavian to be with his pregnant wife when she delivered their child.
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281:, Executive Office of the President. He had the responsibility to set purchasing policy for the entire government.
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On February 18, 2020 President Donald J. Trump granted Safavian a Presidential Pardon along with several others.
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readmitted to the DC Bar in 2017 upon petition. He was pardoned by President Donald Trump on February 18, 2020.
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566:"Former GSA Chief of Staff David Safavian Sentenced for Obstruction of Justice and Making False Statements"
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The firm's clients included businesses such as BP America, the U.S. division of
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99:. Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced
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In 2004, Safavian was serving as Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy,
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List of positions filled by presidential appointment with Senate confirmation
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180:. A practicing Catholic, he attended Gabriel Richard Catholic High School.
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Justice and Civil Liberties in Washington, DC, in both 2023 and 2024.
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link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
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256:, whose name had replaced al-Amoudi's on disclosure forms in 2001.
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United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
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founded a lobbying firm, the Merritt Group, which they renamed as
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Prisoners and detainees of the United States federal government
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Safavian has a bachelors degree in political science from
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Safavian was indicted October 5, 2005. He was accused of
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and Indian tribes working on gaming, such as the Saginaw
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Schmidt, Susan; Smith, R. Jeffrey (21 September 2005).
340:(1994), and a Masters of Business Administration from
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announced Safavian's nomination as Administrator for
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American people convicted of making false statements
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American people convicted of obstruction of justice
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579:Mangan, Dan; Breuninger, Kevin (18 February 2020).
456:"Aide Was Reticent on Lobbying for Foreign Clients"
380:Mangan, Dan; Breuninger, Kevin (18 February 2020).
34:, he served as Chief of Staff of the United States
969:People associated with the Jack Abramoff scandals
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537:"Big Setback for Federal Abramoff Task Force"
502:"Safavian Found Guilty of Lying, Obstruction"
8:
486:"Bush Official Arrested in Corruption Probe"
336:) (1993), a Masters of Law in Taxation from
328:(1988), a law degree (magna cum laude) from
293:February 2020 pardon granted by Donald Trump
1049:Recipients of American presidential pardons
829:Casino Jack and the United States of Money
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605:
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232:, the Association of Concerned Taxpayers,
1004:General Services Administration officials
163:Learn how and when to remove this message
409:Continetti, Matthew (October 10, 2005).
330:Michigan State University College of Law
999:George W. Bush administration personnel
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357:Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
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1039:American people of Iranian descent
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228:. Coalition members included the
211:National Indian Gaming Commission
1044:People from Grosse Ile, Michigan
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338:Georgetown University Law Center
238:Competitive Enterprise Institute
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543:. June 17, 2008. Archived from
279:Office of Management and Budget
51:Office of Management and Budget
36:General Services Administration
230:American Civil Liberties Union
40:Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal
1:
994:Detroit College of Law alumni
989:Saint Louis University alumni
38:(GSA). He is a figure in the
234:Citizens for a Sound Economy
81:biography of a living person
16:American government official
676:Pleaded guilty or convicted
101:must be removed immediately
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342:Loyola University Maryland
275:Federal Procurement Policy
984:Political chiefs of staff
242:Americans for Tax Reform
194:Janus-Merritt Strategies
62:Early life and education
652:Marianas/Saipan scandal
642:Indian lobbying scandal
299:making false statements
628:Jack Abramoff scandals
475:Personnel Announcement
334:Detroit College of Law
326:Saint Louis University
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285:Prosecution and pardon
250:Abdul Rahman al-Amoudi
188:In 1997, Safavian and
95:Please help by adding
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23:David Hossein Safavian
892:Related organizations
783:Named but not charged
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90:references or sources
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1034:Michigan Republicans
178:Grosse Ile, Michigan
1014:People from Detroit
635:Events and scandals
541:The Washington Post
492:, 19 September 2005
490:The Washington Post
461:The Washington Post
421:(4). Archived from
415:The Weekly Standard
907:Timeline of events
662:Monetary influence
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568:. 16 October 2009.
523:2008-08-28 at the
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551:2008-06-17
429:2006-06-21
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795:Tom DeLay
738:Tony Rudy
221:Indians.
84:does not
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219:Kumeyaay
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