Trial of Former Bush Administration Figure

There have been a number of minor figures involved in some of the scandals that have been uncovered in the last year. One of those figures is David Safavian and his trial has been going on this week. Here's the story from Reuters:

A former Bush administration official lied to investigators in an attempt to hide the influence-peddling activities of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, federal prosecutors said on Wednesday.

In opening statements at the first trial in connection with the Abramoff scandal, prosecutors tried to paint David Safavian as a liar while his lawyer denied the charges and accused the government of basing its case on "guilt by association."

Justice Department lawyer Peter Zeidenberg said Safavian took advantage of his position to help his friend, a top Washington lobbyist with strong ties to leaders in Congress, particularly in the Republican Party.

"He worked first and foremost to further the interest of one particular individual -- a rich and powerful lobbyist and personal friend of the defendant, Jack Abramoff," Zeidenberg told 12 jurors and two alternates.

Abramoff pleaded guilty in January to fraud charges and is cooperating with prosecutors in a corruption probe that could implicate more officials and lawmakers.

Tom DeLay, the former Republican House leader and once one of the most powerful politicians in Washington, stepped down from Congress and resigned his seat after becoming embroiled in the Abramoff scandal. Two of his former aides and a former aide to Ohio Republican Rep Bob Ney have pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate in the investigation of a conspiracy to bribe members of Congress in return for legislative favors.

I'm not sure why the media has not been covering in depth the story of the minor congressional and administration figures who are being investigated and, in some cases, prosecuted. Further coverage would give the lie to the notion that the Abramoff scandal is somehow small potatoes or somehow bipartisan. It would also become clear that the people involved in the Abramoff scandal are all Republicans and that we're talking about a corrupt political machine involving a significant part of the Republican leadership and their cronies. Those interested in more should read TPMMuckraker which is following these stories closely and has much information to add.