The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments on Tuesday in the case of a former Bush administration official who was sentenced for his role in the Jack Abramoff scandal.

David Safavian worked at the General Services Administration and the White House Office of Management and Budget. He used to lobby for the National Indian Gaming Association and was an associate of Abramoff.

Safavian was convicted for lying to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee about his relationship with Abramoff and for lying to ethics officials at the GSA. But he says the judge handling the case wrongly excluded testimony in his defense.

Safavian is free pending the outcome of the appeal. He had been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

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Appeals Judges Question Safavian Ruling (AP 1/9)

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