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.
You may also want to review these posts:
- Lobbyist paid $515,000, secretly representing Ilitch syndication interests
- A Case of Abramoff-Lite: Pombo was doing favors for his Motor City Casino friends
- Public Citizen exposes Kessler, Ripon and the free junkets for Members of Congress
- Team Ilitch directed $40,000 to RICH Political Action Committee
- Rep. Don Young's Top 10 donor list includes prominent Great Lakes area families bankrolling 'off-reservation' casino projects
- Rep. Young (R-AK) flying around in Detroit Casino Developers' private jet
- Casino Developer who fronted travel & entertainment costs for Rep. Don Young (R-AK) did the same for former Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA)
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