US: A senior White House official has been arrested in connection with a corruption investigation involving Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff's relations with federal officials and congressmen.
David Safavian, who resigned suddenly last Friday as the Bush administration's top federal procurement official, was arrested on Monday after the FBI said he lied and obstructed their inquiry.
He is accused of trying to hide efforts to help Mr Abramoff to acquire two federally-owned properties in the Washington area and lying about a golf trip to Scotland with the lobbyist in 2002.
Mr Abramoff is at the centre of an 18-month investigation into alleged corruption of officials and congressmen. Formerly one of the most highly-paid lobbyists in Washington, he allegedly arranged golfing trips for congressmen and officials to Scotland, which were paid for by lobbyists, in breach of congressional and federal employment rules.
Five congressmen have admitted accepting a five-day trip to Ashford Castle, Co Mayo, from one lobbying firm in 2003.
Mr Abramoff's dealings with Native American tribes over casino licenses, which earned him more than $80 million in fees, triggered the federal investigation.
Investigators say they found evidence in Mr Abramoff's documents and e-mails of efforts to seek favours from congressmen and officials.
Mr Safavian admitted accepting a golfing holiday in Scotland from Mr Abramoff, but told investigators he had no business dealings with the lobbyist at the time.
The FBI claims Mr Savafian had, in fact, offered extensive, secret help to Mr Abramoff in arranging a lease on a federal building in Washington and acquiring federally-owned land for a school the lobbyist had founded in the city's suburbs.