Former US Representative (R-MI) charged with aiding Al-Qaida, Taliban

[SirFozzie]

Just when the Republican Party was rescuing themselves from the great foot-bulleting of 2006 that cost them both sides of Congress.. Ouch.

WASHINGTON (AP) — 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.

[Deattribution]

This guy hasn't been a congressman for 20 years, I really don't think it's a blow to republicans.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Deattribution

This guy hasn't been a congressman for 20 years, I really don't think it's a blow to republicans.

Agreed. The relationship to the current politicians doesn't even remotely come close.

I would state that if there were ever to be an 'American Al-Qaida/Taliban', it would likely be in Michigan, as they have a very high Muslim population, especially in Detroit.

[Arles]

This about as damning to the republican party as having a former KKK-clansman in Robert Byrd is to the democratic party. In other words, it's a non-issue in 2008.

[Galaril]

Bush,Rove, Cheney, and Haliburton have already done enough in destroying the Republican party Al-Qaida need not worry.

[Dutch]

If only we could get rid of the Republican party and just be a one-party state, we would be in heavenly bliss.

[Karlifornia]

The good thing about this thread is that it won't devolve into partisan bickering.