(No caption)
While the attention fell mostly on high-profile recipients like Paul Manafort and Roger Stone, a former Michigan congressman, Republican Mark Siljander, benefited from President Trump's recent pardon/clemency grants as well.
Mark Siljander, former Michigan congressman (Photo: Wikipedia)
Siljander, who represented a district in southwest Michigan in the 1980s, served prison time for "charges related to work he did for an Islamic charity that federal authorities had linked to terrorist groups," the Detroit Free Press reports.
Siljander, 69, ... pleaded guilty in 2010 to obstruction of justice and to acting as an unregistered foreign agent in federal court in Missouri, where the Islamic American Relief Agency (IARA) was based. Charges related to money laundering were dropped. Siljander, who was never charged with terrorism, was sentenced in 2012 to one year in prison and six months of supervised release.
In 2008, Siljander published a book — "A Deadly Misunderstanding: A Congressman's Quest to Bridge the Muslim-Christian Divide."
Siljander's petition was supported by former Attorney General Ed Meese, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and two clergymen. The White House statement touting his worthiness for mercy states:
"During his time in Congress, Mr. Siljander was one of Congress’ most stalwart defenders of pro-life principles and the namesake of the 'Siljander Amendment,' which prohibits U.S. funds from being used to lobby for or against abortion," the statement from the White House press secretary said.
