Former Michigan congressman pleads guilty

Mark Siljander, a former Republican member of Congress from southwest Michigan, pleaded guilty in federal court to obstruction of justice charges involving an Islamic charity that the State Department considers a major funder of terrorism. The obstruction charge is a much less serious charge than he could have been convicted of if the case had gone to trial. The Detroit Free press reports:

Siljander, 59, entered his plea before a U.S. District Court judge in Missouri, where the Islamic American Relief Agency (IARA) was based…

Prosecutors said Siljander then acted as an agent of IARA, which he later denied, falsely claiming the payments from IARA were charitable donations. Federal law requires anyone who works for a foreign entity, including an organization, to register as such with the U.S. attorney general…

“A former congressman engaged in illegal lobbying for a charity suspected of funding international terrorism,” said Beth Phillips, the U.S. attorney for the western district of Missouri. “He then used his own charities to hide the payments for his criminal activities. Siljander repeatedly lied to FBI agents and prosecutors investigating serious crimes related to national security. With today’s guilty pleas, all of the defendants in this case have admitted their guilt and will be held accountable for their actions.”

Siljander was defeated in a 1986 primary race by Rep. Fred Upton, who has held the seat ever since. Upton was the more moderate challenger, while Siljander was the hard right candidate. Ironically, Upton is now facing a challenge from the right in this year’s primary by former state legislator Jack Hoogendyk.