BKSH & Associates Worldwide
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| Founded | 1996 |
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| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Website | http://www.bksh.com |
Black, Kelly, Scruggs & Healey, also known as BKSH & Associates is a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm.
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[edit] Synopsis
The firm came into being in 1996 through the merger of D.C. firms Black, Manafort, Stone and Kelly and Good & Liebengood.
Part of the Burson-Marsteller family, the firm is led by Charles R. Black, Jr., a leading Republican political strategist. Its principals and alumni have had extensive ties to the administrations of Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. Other clients have included Fortune 100 companies, multinationals, trade and industry associations, foreign governments, state governments and municipalities.
[edit] Controversy
BKSH & Associates, has also represented anti-democratic dictators and regimes in Zaire, Somalia, Nigeria and the Philippines.[1] In 2003, it was internationally criticized for its representation of Ahmad Chalabi and the Iraqi National Congress for their support of the War on Iraq, which was primarily based on intelligence provided by the group which was later proved to be false.
[edit] Company
In 1984, a group of former political campaign strategists and senior Capitol Hill professionals came together to form BKSH.
[edit] Clients
- Government of Colombia: "The registrant provided advice and counsel relating to communications activities, developed communications materials and worked with media organizations to advance the interests of the foreign principal," the company disclosed. In the six month period ending June 1, 2002 the company was paid $232,500.
- His Excellency Ibrahim Saminu Turaki, Governor Jigawa State, Nigeria: "The registrant met with U.S. Government officials and congressional staffers regarding the gum Arabic project in Nigeria," the company disclosed.
- Agency for Humanitarian Technologies: "The registrant monitored news articles and political statements of interest to the foreign principal. The registrant also contacted congressional staffers and U.S. Government officials to provide an update on Ukraine following parliamentary elections and to discuss the status of U.S.-Ukraine relations," it disclosed. For this it was paid $110,000.00 for January 1 to June 30, 2002.
- Blackwater USA BKSH was hired through a personal relationship with Blackwater to help with Erik Prince's October 2, 2007 testimony in front of Congress. Handling the case for BKSH was former State Department official, Robert Tappan.
- Government of Greece - in January 2007 signed "a six-month contract for strategic advice and intelligence gathering" with BKSH, including "executive branch monitoring and House and Senate advocacy"
- Iraqi National Congress and its head Ahmad Chalabi
- Radio Sedaye Iran (Radio Voice of Iran), the Beverly Hills-based network that advocates regime change in Iran.
- YukosSibneft Oil Company (a.k.a. Yukos Oil)
According to records of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, BKSH & Associates is registered to represent 90 clients. (Accessed December 14, 2005.)
[edit] Presidential campaigns
- The 2004 and 2000 campaigns of President George W. Bush
- The 2004 Presidential campaign of Senator John Kerry
- The 2000 Presidential campaign of Vice President Al Gore
- The 1992 and 1996 campaigns of President Bill Clinton
- The 1996 Presidential campaign of Senator Bob Dole
- The 1992 and 1988 campaigns of President George H. W. Bush
- The 1980 and 1984 campaigns of President Ronald Reagan
