PressCoverage

oh, this one is gonna sting...

Former lawmaker charged in terrorism case

CNN) -- A former congressman has been charged in connection with his work for an Islamic charity accused of funneling money to an Afghan warlord, prosecutors announced Wednesday.



The money laundering, conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges against former Michigan Rep. Mark Deli Siljander are part of a 42-count indictment released by the U.S. attorney's office in Kansas City, Missouri.

Siljander "vehemently denies the allegations in the indictment and will enter a not guilty plea," said his attorney, James Hobbs.

Prosecutors allege Siljander's co-defendants -- the directors of an Islamic charity -- hired him to get the organization off a list of agencies suspected of links to terrorism and paid him with stolen U.S. government funds.

...

Lawmakers who heard the news of his indictment were "shocked," said Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Illinois.

"He traveled the world, almost as a missionary. He was a man of deep faith," said LaHood, who reported seeing Siljander at a congressional prayer breakfast in December.

He called the news "very sad."

Michigan Democrat Dale Kildee said he knew Siljander "very well as a Michigan colleague," calling him "very conservative" and a "devout Christian." Kildee, a former seminarian, said he often talked to Siljander about politics and theology.

Stokes

The lesson, as always... never trust an Islamic charity. No no, I'm kidding, I'm kidding. I hope they throw the book at this guy if he is guilty, along with the guys running the bunk charity. Just awful, awful stuff.

Patters

What a surprise. A corrupt Republican politician.

Stokes

At this point Patters I feel like saying "No, really, I swear, they're not ALL either corrupt or perverts, really..."

Harry Boy

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Harry Boy (Genius)

In The Absence Of Law And Order Society Will Surely Destroy Itself

scout

William Jefferson, as everyone on this board has posted should be jailed. I don't think any Dem/Rep/Lib. on this board would say otherwise. The guy's a crook and tho he is still serving in Congress, its kind of old news. Since he was 'busted', we've had a multitude of gay Republican outings (caught with pants down), Republican home raided and under investigation for corruption, and ongoing illegal acts by the White House. Not to downsize Jefferson's act, but how many times does he get offered up in rebuttal?

Fogbuster

Maybe when the wacko Pelosi regime decides to learn some sense of objective reality, like criminals who are caught red-handed only drag down the company they keep -- in the case of Jefferson, that means the entire U.S. Congress -- maybe then we can start putting Repub feet in the same fire. What this gutless kid gloves treatment of Jefferson does is make a mockery of any sense of justice in the Congress; and it even permeates the entire legislative atmosphere. All across the country people young and old can say: "Well, you let a Congressman walk when he was taking illegal bribes, graft, and other payoffs, so why should I have to get penalized." Kind of how do you tell people lying to grand juries is bad when half the country wants to give Bill Clinton a pass for doing just that??? "Only" a b-job or not, lying to a grand jury is lying to a grand jury, and there are stipulated consequences for doing that.

Letting dirt bags walk has far-reaching implications. We would be wise to not let that happen.


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"All that is required for evil to triumph is for good to do nothing."

Harry Boy

We all know why Jefferson gets a pass but it would be "career suicide" for anybody in politics or any other type of public life to say so.
It's Called The Old Democrat Double Standard

Example:
Democrat says "Shuck & Jive" reaction, "tee hee, poo, poo"

Imus says "nappy head ho" reaction, "KILL HIM, DEPORT HIM, KILL HIS HORSE"

__________________
Harry Boy (Genius)

In The Absence Of Law And Order Society Will Surely Destroy Itself

Patters

Fog, the Jefferson case was discussed at length in this forum, and no one here defended him. But, the issue is a bit interesting. Let's remember, it with Speaker Hastert who said the FBI had no right to invade Jefferson's office. It was an issue of the separation of powers. While that issue is certainly complex (do we want the Administration, regardless of Party, to be able to use its agencies to intimidate Congress?), it seems pretty apparent that Jefferson is guilty. Now, can you provide some other examples of corrupt Democrats from recent years?

Patters