Bijan Kian
 | This article needs to be updated. (July 2019) |
Bijan Kian | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 15, 1952 Tehran, Iran |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Tehran Industrial College (BS) University of Brighton (DMS) |
Bijan R. Kian (Persian: بیژن کیان; born January 15, 1952), sometimes written Bijan Rafiekian (بیژن رفیعیکیان), is an Iranian-American businessman, who is based in San Juan Capistrano, California.[1] He has been an executive or board member of many businesses and organizations.[2]
Kian was a member of the Board of Directors of the Export–Import Bank of the United States from 2006 to 2011,[3][4] after being nominated by President George W. Bush and receiving Senate confirmation.[5]
Kian was a partner of retired United States Army Lieutenant General Michael Flynn in the Flynn Intel Group and worked with the 2016 incoming Trump administration's transition team on matters relating to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.[6][7]
The US Special Counsel's office opened an investigation into Flynn and the Flynn Intel Group, including Kian, in 2017.[8][9] 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 United States on behalf of Turkey to extradite Fethullah Gülen, who lives in the U.S., to Turkey, where Gülen was blamed for orchestrating a failed coup in 2016.[10][11] Kian pleaded not guilty. The trial began on July 15, 2019.[12][13] 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.[14] Kian was found guilty and convicted on July 23, 2019.[15] However, on September 24, 2019, Judge Anthony Trenga of the Eastern District of Virginia dismissed the indictment against Bijan Rafiekian, citing insufficient evidence.[16] The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the conviction on March 18, 2021.[17]
On September 11, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia granted a decisive dismissal with prejudice in the case against Hon. Bijan Rafiekian, as outlined in "Motion to Dismiss Charges Against Mr. Rafiekian." This permanent dismissal ceases any further prosecution for the alleged offenses, effectively clearing him. The court's decision underscores the robust legal protections within the U.S. legal system. Mr. MacDougall, Rafiekian’s attorney, stated: Per the attorney, “this case should never have been indicted”. This statement reflects the gravity and relief accompanying the court’s judgment.[18]
See also
[edit]- Judge throws out a guilty verdict against Michael Flynn's lobbying partner Bijan Kian[19]
- Mueller Report
- Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (2019)
- Timeline of the presidency of Donald Trump
- Reza Zarrab
References
[edit]- ^ "Two Men Charged with Conspiracy and Acting as Agents of a Foreign Government". 17 December 2018.
- ^ Executive Profile: Bijan R. Kian at bloomberg.com
- ^ Professional Banker, Business Executive and Educator sworn-in as the 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 website. 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 a 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 the 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.
- ^ Gerstein, Josh (March 18, 2021). "Court reinstates guilty verdicts against Flynn partner over Turkey lobbying". Politico. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "DOJ Drops Long-Running Court Case Against Akin Client Bijan Rafiekian". September 11, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
- ^ Katelyn Polantz. "Judge throws out a guilty verdict against Michael Flynn's lobbying partner Bijan Kian". CNN. Retrieved 2019-11-27.