http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-911631.mp3
Kansas City, MO – A former U.N. Ambassador and ex congressman from Michigan has pleaded guilty in Kansas City Federal District Court to working for a mid-Missouri based charity linked to terrorist groups.
Mark Siljander was lobbyist for the Islamic American Relief Agency before the U.S. Treasury Department labeled it a global terrorist organization in 2004. The 59 year old Siljander has admitted to obstructing justice and acting as unregistered foreign agent. Beth Phillips is U. S. Attorney in Kansas City and says-- "Indictments alleged the Islamic American Relief Agency was involved in funding suspected terrorist organizations."
According to court documents, two other men including Mubarak Hamed who was IARA's chief executive, hired Siljander in early 2004. He was supposed to get the agency taken off a Senate committee's list of charities suspected of financing terrorism.
Siljander was a Republican member of congress in Michigan in the 1980's.
The 53 year old Hamed of Columbia, Mo. has also pleaded guilty. Siljander could go to prison for up to 15 years