The Associated Press reports an interesting insight on the arrest of David Safavian, the procurement policy director at the White House:

Investigators frequently seek to pressure minor players in complex federal probes as they build a case against their principal target. ”You squeeze that person and hope he flips as you work your way up to the top,” said Kirby Behre, a former prosecutor now in private practice.

Safavian’s lawyer, Barbara Van Gelder, a partner at the Washington firm Wiley, Rein and Fielding LLP, seems to agree, telling govexec.com:

“We think this is a creative use of the criminal code to try to secure Mr. Safavian’s cooperation in other matters.”

On Monday, the FBI busted and charged Safavian three days after he resigned from the White House. He faces charges of making false statements and obstructing a federal investigation relating to a 2002 golf outing to Scotland sponsored by lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Former Christian Coalition executive Ralph Reed, Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, and others also joing in the Scottish outing.
Additionally, Safavian is accused of using his former position as chief of staff at the General Services Administration to deliver GSA-managed land into the Abramoff’s hands.
Abramoff is under investigation for lobbying activities on behalf of Indian tribes and his role in paying for overseas trips for House majority leader Tom DeLay. The Texas Republican has denied knowing that Abramoff paid the expenses.
Abramoff, a prominent Republican lobbyist, last month pleaded not guilty to fraud charges. Those charges relate to his dealings with Florida casinos. He and Safavian both worked at the law firm Preston Gates and Ellis in the mid-1990s.