Former Republican Congressman indicted on terrorism conspiracy charges

Wow:

A former congressman and delegate to the United Nations was indicted Wednesday as part of a terrorist fundraising ring that allegedly sent more than $130,000 to an al-Qaida and Taliban supporter who has threatened U.S. and international troops in Afghanistan.   

The former Republican congressman from Michigan, Mark Deli Siljander, was charged with money laundering, conspiracy and obstructing justice for allegedly lying about lobbying senators on behalf of an Islamic charity that authorities said was secretly sending funds to terrorists.

A 42-count indictment, unsealed in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., accuses the Islamic American Relief Agency of paying Siljander $50,000 for the lobbying — money that turned out to be stolen from the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Siljander, who served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, was appointed by President Reagan to serve as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations for one year in 1987. [AP]

[Via TPMM.]

The money allegedly went to Afghan warlord and former US ally Gulbuddin Hekmatyar during 2003-2004.

Here's a Time Magazine profile of Mark Siljander from 1981:

The man who beat him, and who last week swamped Rodebush by 3 to 1 in a special election to fill Stockman's seat: Mark Siljander, 29, a Fundamentalist Christian perhaps even more conservative than Stockman.

"I'm part of the silent majority that was heard Nov. 4 [when President Reagan was elected]," says Siljander. "My support comes from morally concerned citizens who are sick of the situation in this country." Siljander pledges to battle the Equal Rights Amendment, pornography, abortion, school busing and "big spending." He will champion the neutron bomb, the MX missile and prayer in public schools.

A former prefabricated-house salesman and state legislator, Siljander made his mark by mixing politics and religion. He drew money and manpower from right-to-lifers and support from the Moral Majority—though emphasizing he was not that group's candidate—and spoke on school prayer and "the Christian's role in American government." Rodebush complained that his rivals, including two conservative candidates, had their campaign literature handed out in church bulletins. [Time]

In 1981, Siljander described himself as "part of a growing [conservative] trend that's going to continue."

Comments

[Dock Miles]

Hmmmm. Terrible. I guess one of his big things is improving ties between Christianity and Islam. Bet he didn't mention this is what he had in mind.

(The ads in the post are kinda hard to look at, Lindsay.)

[Cass]

"Siljander pledges to battle the Equal Rights Amendment, pornography, abortion, school busing and 'big spending.' He will champion the neutron bomb, the MX missile and prayer in public schools."

That really takes me back. I can still remember the time I asked Daddy, why are those people so angry about school buses?

"In 1981, Siljander described himself as 'part of a growing [conservative] trend that's going to continue.'"

A trend, that is, of increasing greed, depravity and self-centered ruthlessness, masked by public displays of piety and an obsessive concern with other people's sex lives.

"I guess one of his big things is improving ties between Christianity and Islam. Bet he didn't mention this is what he had in mind."

Dinesh D'Sousa may have found his first disciple!

[cfrost]

Seems not to have gotten the memo informing us that the Afghani warlords had been rebranded idolatrous psycho killer jihadists from their previous status as pious freedom fighters battling the godless psycho killer commies.

Either that, or maybe he just needed fifty grand to donate to his church.

[Matthew G. Saroff]

Debbie Schlussel used to be on his staff, back before she was a blond check out Crooks and Liars for more.

[mudkitty]

Welcome to the United States of Saudi America.

[Bruce]

God-damn terrorist-loving Democrats.

Oh. Whoops.

[John Emerson]

From Debbie's site (and there's a longer pro Siljander letter below it):

Debbie: I am Mark's nephew. He's still the same guy you worked for but it sounds like you've already bought into all the negative press so if you have already made up your mind, I'm not going to help change it because that's not my motive anyways. Remember, there are two sides to every story. He was writing a book so that's not a lie because he talked about it all the time and my grandpa even came up with the book title. Jesus said that "he who is without sin, cast the first stone" and "vengeance is mine saith the Lord."
Take a few deep breaths and see what happens. You may be suprised again that Mark is exhonerated. Until then, remember the good about him sister.
Our world is too negative and is a total trap. Don't fall in. He was loyal to you and you deserve to offer him the same until the facts all come out. Mark is passionate about God and communicating Jesus to the Muslim & Islamic world. He still loves the Jews and God has even taken him to a deeper place than when you knew him. I pray that God give you grace & mercy too.

Posted by: Corey

[John Emerson]

By which I meant Debbie Schlussel, raving Worldnet columnist and former intern in Siljander's office.

[shrimplate]

Another Jesus-loving conservative psychopath slips up.

In other news, Franco is still dead.

[mudkitty]

You mean World Nut Daily.

[misterniceguy1960]

At last, a solid connection between violent conservative Christians and violent conservative Muslims. Alert David Horowitz.

[mudkitty]

Just imagine what Faux Noise would have done with this story if it had been a democrat.