Posted
on Wed Jul 7, 2010
Last updated
Jul 7, 2010
A former Missouri congressman connected to a Columbia group accused of having ties to terrorism has pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme.
Mark Deli Siljander, a Republican who served in the House from
1981-1987, is charged with helping an Islamic charity based in
Missouri that authorities said secretly sent funds to terrorists.
Siljander, who became a lobbyist after leaving the House, was
scheduled to appear Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Kansas
City. He is charged with money laundering, conspiracy and
obstructing justice.
Prosecutors allege that he lied about lobbying senators on
behalf of the Islamic American Relief Agency. Prosecutors say the
money the group paid to Siljander was stolen from the U.S. Agency
for International Development.
