In case you missed it....
A former Republican congressman from Michigan who has dedicated himself to building ties between Christians and Muslims was indicted in federal court yesterday for alleged ties to an Islamic charity that sent money to suspected terrorists.
Mark D. Siljander, who served more than two terms in the House in the 1980s and later ran as a Republican candidate for the House from Northern Virginia, was charged with money laundering, obstruction of justice and conspiracy.The indictment alleges that he lied to the FBI about his work on behalf of the Islamic American Relief Agency, which the Treasury Department designated as a terrorist organization in 2004.
The case appears to be unique in accusing a former member of Congress of conspiring with a designated terrorist group, said Justice Department officials and national security experts. The allegations also are unusual because they involve a former politician with strong Christian support who is charged for his connections to alleged Islamic militants.
After his first House election in 1981, Siljander said he thought he won because he often wore a "Jesus First" button and because "God wanted me in."
As Andrew Sullivan loves to point out, Christianist Republicans really do have a tremendous amount in common with the Islamic radicals we are supposedly fighting. But still... a former congressman? That's just.... wow.
And yes, for the record: can you imagine the shit-storm this would have produced had it been a Democratic congressman?
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