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Kian was a partner of retired [[United States Army]] [[Lieutenant General (United States)|Lieutenant General]] [[Michael Flynn]] in the [[Flynn Intel Group]] and worked with the [[Presidential transition of Donald Trump|incoming Trump administration's transition team]] on matters relating to the [[Office of the Director of National Intelligence]].<ref>Stephen Braun; Chad Day (Associated Press). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/13/bijan-kian-donald-trump-transition-aide-was-key-pl Trump transition aide was key player in Flynn’s Turkish work]. ''Washington Times''. 13 June 2017</ref><ref>[https://www.steptoe.com/resources-detail-11703.html Trump Administration Transition] team members list, Steptoe & Johnson LLP, December 2016</ref> |
Kian was a partner of retired [[United States Army]] [[Lieutenant General (United States)|Lieutenant General]] [[Michael Flynn]] in the [[Flynn Intel Group]] and worked with the [[Presidential transition of Donald Trump|incoming Trump administration's transition team]] on matters relating to the [[Office of the Director of National Intelligence]].<ref>Stephen Braun; Chad Day (Associated Press). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/13/bijan-kian-donald-trump-transition-aide-was-key-pl Trump transition aide was key player in Flynn’s Turkish work]. ''Washington Times''. 13 June 2017</ref><ref>[https://www.steptoe.com/resources-detail-11703.html Trump Administration Transition] team members list, Steptoe & Johnson LLP, December 2016</ref> |
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The [[Special Counsel investigation (2017–present)|US Special Counsel's office opened an investigation]] into Flynn and the Flynn Intel Group, including Kian, in 2017.<ref>Reuters. [http://www.newsweek.com/flynn-trump-russia-investigation-turkey-bijan-kian-gulen-inovo-ekim-alptekin-627600 Who is Bijan Kian? Feds probe ex-Flynn associate for payments from companies with Russian and Turkish ties]. ''Newsweek'', 20 June 2017</ref><ref>Julia Ainsley. [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mike-flynn-business-partner-bijan-kian-now-subject-mueller-probe-n823366 Mike Flynn business partner Bijan Kian now subject of Mueller probe]. NBC News. 22 Nov 2017</ref> On December 17, 2018, several months after Flynn entered into a cooperation agreement with the Special Counsel's office, and two weeks after Flynn pleaded guilty in federal court for [[Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (2017)#January|lying to the FBI]], Kian and [[Kamil Ekim Alptekin]] were indicted in US federal court. Kian was charged with illegally acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government and for lobbying the US government on behalf of Turkey to extradite [[Fethullah Gülen]], who lives in the U.S., to Turkey, where Gülen was later blamed for orchestrating a [[2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt|failed coup in 2016]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/michael-flynns-business-partner-charged-with-illegally-lobbying-for-turkey/2018/12/17/46fb3762-020a-11e9-9122-82e98f91ee6f_story.html |title=Michael Flynn’s business partner charged with illegally lobbying for Turkey|last=Weiner|first=Rachel|date=December 17, 2018|work=Washington Post|access-date=December 17, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/usa/trial-begins-high-stakes-us-turkey-ties-ex-trump-adviser-flynn|title=Trial Begins With High Stakes for US-Turkey Ties, Ex-Trump Adviser Flynn|website=Voice of America|language=en|access-date=2019-07-24}}</ref> Kian pleaded not guilty. The trial began on July 15, 2019.<ref>AP. [https://www.apnews.com/9bea278c0fc2483d9c6ae7d748b45f46 "Prosecutors may be forced to name Flynn in lobbying case"]. 13 February 2019.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/usa/trial-begins-high-stakes-us-turkey-ties-ex-trump-adviser-flynn|title=Trial Begins With High Stakes for US-Turkey Ties, Ex-Trump Adviser Flynn|website=Voice of America|language=en|access-date=2019-07-24}}</ref> Contractors of the intel company gave testimony in the trial of the subject, which revealed the subject had requested surveillance of Gülen supporters, investigations of terrorist connections, and classified FBI documents on Gülen.<ref>Gerstein, Josh. (17 July 2019). "Flynn juggled Trump campaign role with foreign lobbying, jurors told." [https://www.politico.com/story/2019/07/17/michael-flynn-trump-campaign-foreign-lobbying-1418837 Politico website] Retrieved 18 July 2019.</ref> He was convicted on July 23, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://politi.co/2JNkb2k|title=Trump transition adviser convicted on foreign-agent charges|last=Gerstein|first=Josh|website=POLITICO|language=en|access-date=2019-07-24}}</ref> On September |
The [[Special Counsel investigation (2017–present)|US Special Counsel's office opened an investigation]] into Flynn and the Flynn Intel Group, including Kian, in 2017.<ref>Reuters. [http://www.newsweek.com/flynn-trump-russia-investigation-turkey-bijan-kian-gulen-inovo-ekim-alptekin-627600 Who is Bijan Kian? Feds probe ex-Flynn associate for payments from companies with Russian and Turkish ties]. ''Newsweek'', 20 June 2017</ref><ref>Julia Ainsley. [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mike-flynn-business-partner-bijan-kian-now-subject-mueller-probe-n823366 Mike Flynn business partner Bijan Kian now subject of Mueller probe]. NBC News. 22 Nov 2017</ref> On December 17, 2018, several months after Flynn entered into a cooperation agreement with the Special Counsel's office, and two weeks after Flynn pleaded guilty in federal court for [[Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (2017)#January|lying to the FBI]], Kian and [[Kamil Ekim Alptekin]] were indicted in US federal court. Kian was charged with illegally acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government and for lobbying the US government on behalf of Turkey to extradite [[Fethullah Gülen]], who lives in the U.S., to Turkey, where Gülen was later blamed for orchestrating a [[2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt|failed coup in 2016]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/michael-flynns-business-partner-charged-with-illegally-lobbying-for-turkey/2018/12/17/46fb3762-020a-11e9-9122-82e98f91ee6f_story.html |title=Michael Flynn’s business partner charged with illegally lobbying for Turkey|last=Weiner|first=Rachel|date=December 17, 2018|work=Washington Post|access-date=December 17, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/usa/trial-begins-high-stakes-us-turkey-ties-ex-trump-adviser-flynn|title=Trial Begins With High Stakes for US-Turkey Ties, Ex-Trump Adviser Flynn|website=Voice of America|language=en|access-date=2019-07-24}}</ref> Kian pleaded not guilty. The trial began on July 15, 2019.<ref>AP. [https://www.apnews.com/9bea278c0fc2483d9c6ae7d748b45f46 "Prosecutors may be forced to name Flynn in lobbying case"]. 13 February 2019.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/usa/trial-begins-high-stakes-us-turkey-ties-ex-trump-adviser-flynn|title=Trial Begins With High Stakes for US-Turkey Ties, Ex-Trump Adviser Flynn|website=Voice of America|language=en|access-date=2019-07-24}}</ref> Contractors of the intel company gave testimony in the trial of the subject, which revealed the subject had requested surveillance of Gülen supporters, investigations of terrorist connections, and classified FBI documents on Gülen.<ref>Gerstein, Josh. (17 July 2019). "Flynn juggled Trump campaign role with foreign lobbying, jurors told." [https://www.politico.com/story/2019/07/17/michael-flynn-trump-campaign-foreign-lobbying-1418837 Politico website] Retrieved 18 July 2019.</ref> He was convicted on July 23, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://politi.co/2JNkb2k|title=Trump transition adviser convicted on foreign-agent charges|last=Gerstein|first=Josh|website=POLITICO|language=en|access-date=2019-07-24}}</ref> On September 24, 2019 Judge [[Anthony Trenga]] of the [[Eastern District of Virginia]] dismissed the indictment against Bijan Rafiekian, citing insufficient evidence to sustain his conviction on either count.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/judge-tosses-conviction-against-michael-flynn-s-ex-lobbying-partner-n1058386|title=Judge tosses conviction against Michael Flynn's ex-lobbying partner|website=NBC News|language=en|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
Revision as of 06:38, 18 May 2020
Bijan Kian | |
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Personal details | |
Born | Tehran, Iran | January 15, 1952
Political party | Republican |
Education | Tehran Industrial College (BS) University of Brighton (DMS) |
Bijan R. Kian, sometimes written Bijan Rafiekian, is an Iranian-American businessman. He has been an executive or board member of many businesses and organizations.[1]
Kian was a member of the Board of Directors of the Export–Import Bank of the United States from 2006 to 2011,[2][3] after being nominated by President George W. Bush and receiving Senate confirmation.[4]
Kian was a partner of retired United States Army Lieutenant General Michael Flynn in the Flynn Intel Group and worked with the incoming Trump administration's transition team on matters relating to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.[5][6]
The US Special Counsel's office opened an investigation into Flynn and the Flynn Intel Group, including Kian, in 2017.[7][8] On December 17, 2018, several months after Flynn entered into a cooperation agreement with the Special Counsel's office, and two weeks after Flynn pleaded guilty in federal court for lying to the FBI, Kian and Kamil Ekim Alptekin were indicted in US federal court. Kian was charged with illegally acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government and for lobbying the US government on behalf of Turkey to extradite Fethullah Gülen, who lives in the U.S., to Turkey, where Gülen was later blamed for orchestrating a failed coup in 2016.[9][10] Kian pleaded not guilty. The trial began on July 15, 2019.[11][12] Contractors of the intel company gave testimony in the trial of the subject, which revealed the subject had requested surveillance of Gülen supporters, investigations of terrorist connections, and classified FBI documents on Gülen.[13] He was convicted on July 23, 2019.[14] On September 24, 2019 Judge Anthony Trenga of the Eastern District of Virginia dismissed the indictment against Bijan Rafiekian, citing insufficient evidence to sustain his conviction on either count.[15]
See also
- Judge throws out guilty verdict against Michael Flynn's lobbying partner Bijan Kian[16]
- Mueller Report
- Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (2019)
- Timeline of the presidency of Donald Trump
References
- ^ Executive Profile: Bijan R. Kian at bloomberg.com
- ^ Professional Banker, Business Executive and Educator sworn-in as newest board member at Export-Import Bank of the United States Ex-Im Bank press release, 9 Oct 2006
- ^ Ex-Im Bank History. Export Import Bank of the United States web site. Archived at the Wayback Machine on 23 Jan 2015
- ^ Hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. 11 July 2007
- ^ Stephen Braun; Chad Day (Associated Press). Trump transition aide was key player in Flynn’s Turkish work. Washington Times. 13 June 2017
- ^ Trump Administration Transition team members list, Steptoe & Johnson LLP, December 2016
- ^ Reuters. Who is Bijan Kian? Feds probe ex-Flynn associate for payments from companies with Russian and Turkish ties. Newsweek, 20 June 2017
- ^ Julia Ainsley. Mike Flynn business partner Bijan Kian now subject of Mueller probe. NBC News. 22 Nov 2017
- ^ Weiner, Rachel (December 17, 2018). "Michael Flynn's business partner charged with illegally lobbying for Turkey". Washington Post. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
- ^ "Trial Begins With High Stakes for US-Turkey Ties, Ex-Trump Adviser Flynn". Voice of America. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
- ^ AP. "Prosecutors may be forced to name Flynn in lobbying case". 13 February 2019.
- ^ "Trial Begins With High Stakes for US-Turkey Ties, Ex-Trump Adviser Flynn". Voice of America. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
- ^ Gerstein, Josh. (17 July 2019). "Flynn juggled Trump campaign role with foreign lobbying, jurors told." Politico website Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ^ Gerstein, Josh. "Trump transition adviser convicted on foreign-agent charges". POLITICO. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
- ^ "Judge tosses conviction against Michael Flynn's ex-lobbying partner". NBC News. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
- ^ Katelyn Polantz. "Judge throws out guilty verdict against Michael Flynn's lobbying partner Bijan Kian". CNN. Retrieved 2019-11-27.