Michael J. Malik, Sr.

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Michael J. Malik, Sr. (born February 1954) is a self-proclaimed developer and entrepreneur from Detroit, Michigan. Since the early 1990s he and his partner Marian Ilitch have been catalysts for legalization of gambling and development of gambling halls from coast to coast and in Hawaii. Among them: casinos for Michigan's Little River Band of Ottawa Indians in Manistee and the Bay Mills Indian Community in Brimley and Port Huron; several failed attempts to legalize gambling in the State of Hawaii and develop casinos on Waikīkī Beach; a casino resort on Long Island, NY in the Town of Southampton (often referred to as The Hamptons as "Gateway Casino Resorts, LLC" partnered with the Shinnecock Indians; and as Barwest, LLC, partners with the Big Lagoon Rancheria Indians and the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeño Mission Indians to develop dual off-reservation casinos in Barstow, California.

In 1996, after several other failed attempts to legalize commercial gaming in Detroit, Malik and another partner, Thomas Celani, bankrolled the campaign urging passage of Michigan Proposal E, the statewide ballot measure that legalized commercial gaming and permitted development of three commercial casinos in Detroit (according to disclosure documents they contributed $5 million plus under Z.R.X. LLC, a "syndicate" they formed which would also include Ilitch Family interests). In subsequent partnership documents and Operating Agreements([1]) signed six months after the election and filed with the SEC, their new Las Vegas-based development partner, Circus Circus Enterprises (later named Circus Circus Michigan a subsidiary of Mandalay Resort Group) agreed to reimburse Malik, Celani and other local individuals in consideration for the costs they advanced to qualify and win voter approval of Proposal E.

While Malik was to be disqualified from being licensed as a gambling casino proprietor, he continues to work behind the scenes syndicating various casino development opportunities as well as managing predevelopment and development phases of new casino projects. At the appropriate time he then restructues or sells his interests to other parties like Ilitch (proprietor of Detroit's MotorCity Casino); Station Casinos, Inc.; Harrah's and others to avoid licensing.

Malik pursues other casino gambling interests outside of Michigan, from coast to coast.

[edit] Civic & political

The Federal Elections Commission (FEC) reports that Malik contributed nearly $267,000 to federal candidates and PACs between 2003 and 2006.

Federal lobbying reports required to be filed with the Clerk of the U.S. Senate [2] and compiled by The Center for Public Integrity indicate between $1.0-$1.3 million in lobbying expenses were directed to Wheat Government Relations (former Congressman Alan Wheat the primary D.C. lobbyist representing Malik, Marian Ilitch and their various partners from 2002-2005.)[3]. From 2003-2004, Malik also had an agreement with Barbara W. Bonfiglio to pay her firm Williams & Jensen at least $220,000 for representation. According to The Center for Public Integrity, Bonfiglio was concurrently Treasurer for several dozen GOP "leadership" PACs, now under investigation, that were controlled by congressional leaders including Senator Rick Santorum, Congressmen Tom DeLay, Jerry Lewis and Richard Pombo and others.[4]

In 2002 and 2003 respectively, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and GOP Congresswoman Candice Miller (MI-10th) introduced bills seeking Congressionl approval of a land claims settlement agreement with the Bay Mills Indian Community intended to grant the tribe the right to develop an off-reservation casino in a desirable urban location in Port Huron, MI. Neither Malik nor his partners the Ilitch Family had previously been donors to the Congressional campaigns of either Stabenow or Miller; however after they introduced their respective bills, S. 2986[5] and H.R. 831,[6] Federal Election Commission (FEC) records indicate Malik/Ilitch Family members directed $113,000 to committees supporting Stabenow's 2006 re-election campaign and $74,000 to committees directly controlled by Miller.[7]

National media controversy erupted following the 2005 MLB All-Star Game when it was reported Ilitch's son and Malik hosted back to back $5,000 per person fundraisers in the Ilitch owner's suite to benefit Rep. Pombo. Pombo was the powerful chairman of the House Resources Committee overseeing Indian Gaming and other related matters in the 109th Congress. Two days following the fundraiser, Pombo's Resources Committee was scheduled to take up a critical matter involving Malik's Indian casino projects.[8] FEC disclosures indicate the day between the fundraiser and the committee hearing, Malik and co-host Christoper Ilitch each wrote $25,000 checks to the Republican National Committee.

[edit] Links

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