# Former Republican lawmaker indicted as terrorist conspirator

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-republican-lawmaker-indicted-as-terrorist-conspirator/433779>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [January 16, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-republican-lawmaker-indicted-as-terrorist-conspirator/433779 "2008-01-16T20:52:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-republican-lawmaker-indicted-as-terrorist-conspirator/433779/1 "2008-01-16T20:52:51Z")

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[Link](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22686544/)

> [@](#):
>
> WASHINGTON - A former U.S. congressman and delegate to the United Nations was indicted Wednesday, accused of being 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.
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> \<snip\>
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> The money, sent to bank accounts in Peshawar, Pakistan in 2003 and 2004, was masked as donations to an orphanage located in buildings that Hekmatyar owned.

You’d think that in 2003/2004, one would be more careful about where he sends money.

EDIT: Huh. I thought I was putting this in MPSIMS. Oh, well. Probably belongs in the pit anwyay.  
EDIT2: Forgot to curse. _Son of a whore!_

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**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-republican-lawmaker-indicted-as-terrorist-conspirator/433779/2 "2008-01-16T23:20:38Z")

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His best defense is to claim he thought he was sending his money to a Nigerian banker.

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**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2008, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-republican-lawmaker-indicted-as-terrorist-conspirator/433779/3 "2008-01-17T02:25:39Z")

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[I wonder if they’ll call off printing of this book.](http://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Misunderstanding-Congressmans-Bridge-Muslim-Christian/dp/0061438286/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200536593&sr=8-1)

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**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2008, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-republican-lawmaker-indicted-as-terrorist-conspirator/433779/4 "2008-01-17T03:16:56Z")

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Responding to the charges, Siljander stated\* “IARA has a wide stance on a number of issues, and I had no idea the funds would be tapped to foot the bill for unlawful activities.”

[sub]\* No, he didn’t.[/sub]

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**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2008, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-republican-lawmaker-indicted-as-terrorist-conspirator/433779/5 "2008-01-19T05:33:29Z")

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[This is interesting.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20080116/ex-congressman-indicted/)

> [@](#):
>
> Siljander was elected to Congress initially with the support of fundamentalist Christian groups, and said at the time he won because “God wanted me in.”

God really needs to do a better job of screening His candidates.