Team Ilitch directed $40,000 to RICH Political Action Committee

Detroit casino syndicators Marian Ilitch & Michael Malik, along with their partners, affiliates and lobbyists contributed $40,000 to Rep. Richard Pombo’s RICH Political Action Committee.

That’s two and a half times the combined $16,000 in contributions that got Ilitch and Malik two spots on RICH Pac’s “Top Ten List” (ahead of #10 Jack Abramoff)

1. Rick Kessler (Richard S. Kessler) & former Rep. Billy Evans of Kessler & Associates (K&A), contributed $3,000 to RICH PAC during 2004/05.
   
   Documents on file with the Secretary of the Senate indicate in 2003 and 2004, K&A was retained by Wheat Government Relations, the primary lobbyist for “Team Ilitch,” in an arrangement for K&A to handle gaming and Indian Country matters.
   
   Kessler & Associates was representing Team Ilitch’s interests in Washington, D.C. “under the radar.” Team Ilitch had officially hired Wheat Government Relations and Wheat, in turn, passed through fees retaining Kessler & Associates; to add further curiousity it looks like Wheat may have paid K&A more than Wheat was paid by his collective “Team Ilitch” clients.
   


2. George Baker and Susan Hirschman, Williams & Jensen (Barbara Bonfiglio) contributed $3887 from 2003-06. Bonfiglio, then RICH PAC treasurer, signed Malik (MJM Enterprises & Development) to a lobbying contract in September 2003 for representation on gaming matters. Bonfiglio’s firm was paid $220,000 for representation from 2003-2005.
   


3. Richard Alcalde, Federalist Group/Potomac Partners DC contributed $2,500 on December 7, 2005. By 2006, Ilitch/Malik and affiliates had terminated or mothballed the seven other lobbying firms that had represented their interests at some point since 2002 and placed all of "Team Ilitch's"needs in the hands of Alcalde (Potomac Partners DC) and rookie lobbyist Daniel X. Feliz who joined with Alcalde in 2006. Feliz had a stand alone contract with Michael Malik’s Blue Water Resorts earlier. Malik’s MJM Enterprises and the Shinnecock Indian Nation have retained Alcalde. For 2005 & 2006, Alcalde has been paid an average of $280,000 per year; that’s more than Team Ilitch had previously paid any of the seven other lobbying firms retained between 2002 and 2006.
   


4. Four partners at Mercury Public Affairs (Kieran V. Mahoney; Kirill Goncharenko; Gregory E. Strimple & Michael F. McKeon) contributed $13,000 to RICH PAC on December 7, 2005. There are no records filed with the Secretary of the Senate to suggest Mercury Public Affairs represents any affiliates of "Team Ilitch" in D.C.; however, documents on file in New York indicate the Shinnecock Nation Gaming Authority retained representation by Mercury Public Affairs in New York during 2005 and 2006 for fees of $240,000 per year.

There are no records to suggest anyone affiliated with Wheat Government Relations (the primary lobbying firm representing "Team Ilitch' interests since 2002) contributed to RICH PAC during the ’04 or ’06 cycles.

Team Ilitch and affiliates paid $2.5 million in lobbying fees to eight different lobbying firms including those highlighted here for representation on gaming and Indian matters since 2002; Wheat Government Relations was paid $1 million or 40% of the total lobbying fees. Wheat has not reported any representation of Team Ilitch interests in 2006.

Mike & Marian Ilitch and Michael J. Malik, Sr. contributed collectively $16,000 to RICH PAC and Robert G. “Bob” Guenthardt, Malik’s associate from the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians/Manistee Casino project contributed $1000.

Malik and Ilitch contributed enough to land them two spots (#5 & #9) on RICH PAC’s “Top 10” cumulative donor list, leapfrogging #10 Jack Abramoff; but it didn’t stop there.

Taken in context with contributions from these other Ilitch/Malik partners, agents and affiliates, collectively Team Ilitch contributed $40,000 or more to RICH PAC during the period Rep. Pombo served as Chairman of the House Resources Committee.

This should be taken in context with all of the other involvement Ilitch/Malik had with Pombo from 2004-2006, including: $26,600 delivered to the San Joaquin County GOP Committee; a two-day extravagant hosted $5,000 per person All-Star Game fundraiser in Detroit; two $25,000 contributions delivered to the RNC the day after the All-Star Game; and other gifts including travel.

Note: Under California's political reform laws, Barwest L.L.C. was to have reported the $26,600 contribution made 10/18/04 as a "major donor" in disclosure filings due 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 J. Malik, Sr. did not file disclosure documentation declaring Barwest L.L.C. a "major donor" until September, 5, 2005 -- nearly a year after making the curious contribution and almost nine months (and two reporting periods) after disclosures were required.

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The Verifiable Truth: Motown's Team Ilitch tops Abramoff on Congressman's "Top 10 List"