And by the end of Rep. Pombo's second turn as Chairman of the House Resources Committee, Team Ilitch out-paced even Jack Abramoff to secure two spots on Pombo's "Top Ten List" of individual donors.
In 2003, Detroit-based casino syndicators, including Marian Ilitch and Michael J. Malik, Sr., formed Barwest LLC; the partnership pushing plans in Barstow, CA, for two Indian casinos under the banner of one large commercial resort developed by Barwest or its affiliates.
Records available from the California Secretary of State indicate Barwest (Ilitch/Malik) made three political contributions in California during the last 3 years: two payments of $5,000 each on May 13, 2005 to "Citizens to Save California" (a committee supporting Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s failed 2005 special election propositions); and a single $26,600 payment on October 18, 2004 to the San Joaquin County GOP Committee (ID #742270).
The San Joaquin County GOP Committee reported the Barwest contribution on October 25, 2004 under late contributions reporting requirements. There were three contributions reported by the GOP Committee on October 25; each was listed as $26,600; in addition to the contribution received from (1) Detroit-based Barwest, the others were from (2) RICH Political Action Committee (CA filer ID # 1270991) and (3) “Jeff Denham for Senate” committee (CA filer ID # 1251652).
Under California's political reform laws, Barwest L.L.C. was to have reported this contribution as a "major donor" by January 31, 2005. No disclosures were filed. A second reporting period for major donor disclosures ended June 30, 2005. Again no disclosures were filed. Michael Malik did not file disclosure documentation declaring Barwest L.L.C. a "major donor" until September, 5, 2005 -- nearly a year after making the contribution and seven months after disclosures were required.
What is a RICH PAC?
The Stockton Record March 9, 2006, says:
RICH Political Action Committee "is [Congressman Richard] Pombo's 'leadership PAC,' a kind of extra campaign committee that many lawmakers maintain. Pombo calls his Rich PAC. The money raised for these accounts can be used for nearly any purpose other than to directly get the lawmaker re-elected."Rep. Pombo makes his hometown in Tracey, CA -- in San Joaquin County.
It is not clear why Detroit-based Barwest sent a contribution, relatively large by its own standards, to a county political party committee 2400 miles away. However, Rep. Pombo was by elective office also a voting member, with appointment priveleges, of the San Joaquin County GOP Committee. And, in 2003, then-House Speaker Tom DeLay had appointed Rep. Pombo to serve as powerful Chairman of the House Resources Committee (among other things, Resources has oversight on energy matters as well as Indian Country, Indian gaming and Department of Interior matters).
The amount, $26,600, is curious too -- not $26,000 or $26,500 or $25,000 -- especially since RICH PAC appears to have matched the contribution on the same day.
This was a random one-time contribution by Barwest; an organization that has never contributed to any political committee in Barstow (CA) or greater San Bernardino County where it seeks to build casinos. In fact, a review of contributions over the last decade by Barwest and its principals (Ilitch Family members and Michael Malik) failed to turn up any other instance of a contribution that large to a county party committee anywhere in the U.S.
Adding to the curiosity factor, MapQuest estimates San Joaquin County is approximately 370 miles by car (or a six hour drive) from Barstow; and from San Joaquin County (CA) to Detroit (MI) is six times as far.
Something else to consider: during the roughly four year period Pombo served as Chairman of House Resources, convicted former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, someone to whom Pombo has been negatively linked, ranked #10 on RICH Political Action Committee's "Top Ten" donors list.
Opponents exploited Rep. Pombo's alledged relationship with Abramoff during the closing weeks of the 2006 mid-term elections. Pundits suggest it was one of the factors that contributed to Pombo's failed re-election bid.
Of little discussion during the election: Detroiters Mike & Marian Ilitch (owners of the Detroit Tigers and founders of Little Caesar Pizza carryouts) and their partner Michael Malik. The Ilitch's son and Malik had organized the July 2005 MLB All-Star Game fundraiser for Pombo.
A cumulative review of RICH PAC's individual contributors after Pombo's appointment as Chair of House Resources ('04 and '06 election cycles) shows Mike & Marian Ilitch at #9 and Michael Malik at #5 on RICH PAC's "Top 10 List" (for purposes of this analysis married couple's contributions were combined and household totals considered).
Considering the alledged circumstances that found Abramoff at #10, it would only make sense to examine more closely how it was that business partners from Detroit landed atop Abramoff on Pombo's "Top 10 List." Pombo may not have been re-elected but that doesn't mean the roots of corruption have been cut-out.
RICH Political Action Committee '04 & '06
"Top 10" Indiviual Donors
"Top 100" Individual Donors
Ilitch/Malik Gaming Affiliated Donors
Among sources used for this post: California Secretary of State; Michigan Secretary of State; Center for Responsive Politics, www.opensecrets.org; Federal Election Commission; PoliticalMoneyLine for Congressional Quarterly; CampaignMoney.com; Newsmeat.com;
Please comment or email here with any corrections, updates or questions.
You may also want to review these posts:
The Verifiable Truth: Team Ilitch directed $40,000 to RICH Political Action Committee
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