"The arrest of a former White House official marks a new phase in the investigation of Jack Abramoff in which authorities seek to extract information about the high-powered Republican lobbyist.

David Safavian was arrested Monday and charged with making false statements and obstructing a federal investigation relating to a 2002 golf outing to Scotland with Abramoff, former Christian Coalition executive Ralph Reed, Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, and others.

Safavian is the first person to face charges arising out of the probe of Abramoff, a major Republican fundraiser with close ties to GOP leaders in Congress.

Investigators frequently seek to pressure minor players in complex federal probes as they build a case against their principal target."