Sunday, June 03, 2007

Casino syndicator tied to Ripon Society promoted Homeland Security project during boondoggle to Ireland

TVT has obtained background material distributed by Detroit-based casino interests that includes a biography for one of its principals, Michael J. Malik, Sr.

The Malik biography boasts the following:

Mike is currently working on a homeland security project and recently served as the moderator of a homeland security panel in Ireland with member of U.S. Congress, Senate and Foreign Embassy staff.”
This sure sounds like one of those questionable Congressional boondoggles organized and funded by lobbying firms and their clients; trips to Ireland specifically that have come under greater scrutiny which were organized by Jack Abramoff and his associates, or Richard Kessler and his Ripon Society.

While TVT has not uncovered any direct relationship between Malik and Abramoff; in documents sent to TVT, Malik’s affiliates represent that Kessler is their lobbyist. Kessler has not filed any report with appropriate congressional offices to disclose he or his firm is (was) a lobbyist for Malik, Malik’s gaming partner Mrs. Marian Ilitch nor their affiliated businesses or partners.

TVT has discovered that the primary lobbying firm (Wheat Government Relations) representing Malik’s various casino/gambling interests apparently funneled $665,000 (most likely from Malik’s affiliates and partners) to Kessler’s lobbying firm Kessler & Associates between 2002 and 2005.

Information about the date of the trip and the names of those Members of Congress who attended the gathering would shed even more light on the appropriateness of Malik’s activity and those with whom he associates.

Among others, Malik is a patron, travel partner and political pal of Rep. Don Young (R-AK) and Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) as well as former Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA); individuals with key roles on committees overseeing matters of national security and appropriations and whose fundraising practices and relationships with various lobbying firms and their clients have prompted calls for investigations.

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Ilitch has backed loosing sports teams and pizza, but casinos in Detroit? Forbes.com 10.09.06 ● Marian Ilitch #1 on "25 Most Powerful People" to Watch 2006” global gaming business o1.oo.o5 ● My Kingdom for a Casino Forbes 05.08.06 ● Big Lagoon’s casino dream awakens north coast journal 07.28.05 ● Shinnecocks launch legal claim to Hamptons land newsday.com 06.16.05 ● Ilitch Plans to Expand Casino Empire RGTonline.com 07.05.05 ● Ilitch outbids partners MichiganDaily.com 04.14.05 ● Ilitch enmeshed in NY casino dispute detnews.com 03.20.05 ● Marian Ilitch, high roller freep.com 03.20.05 ● MGM Mirage to Decide on Offer for Casino in Detroit rgtonline.com 04.16.05 ● Secret deal for MotorCity alleged freep.com 02.15.05 ● Los Coyotes get new developer desertdispatch.com 02.08.05 Detroit casino figure to finance Barstow project LasVegasSun.com 07.07.03 ● Indian Band trying to put casino in Barstow signonSanDiego.com 06.04.03 Pizza matriarch takes on casino roles detnews.com 10.23.02 ● Vanderbilt gets short straw in negotiations for a casino Lansing Journal 10.06.02 ● Indians aim to drive family from tribe in vicious dispute san diego union tribune 04.09.00 ●Malik owns 2000 Michigan Quarter Horse of the Year Michigan.gov 01.01.00 ● Detroit Team to run Michigan’s newest Indian casino detnews.com 05.23.99 Tiger ties tangle Marian Ilitch detnews.com 04.29.99 ● Three investors must sell their Detroit casino interests gamblingmagazine.com 04.25.99 ● Partners’ cash revived election; They say money was crucial to Prop-E detnews.com 04.25.99 Investors have troubled histories las vegas review journal 04.27.99 ● Investor served probation for domestic assault on 12 year old boy detnews.com 04.25.99 Can a pair win a jackpot?: local men hope to... crainsdetroit.com 03.17.97

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