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	~~{{MetaDescription\|Mark Siljander, former Michigan congressman, was convicted of obstruction and acting as unregistered foreign agent and pardoned by Trump in December 2020.}}~~


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			{{MetaDescription\|Mark Siljander, former Michigan congressman, was convicted of obstruction and acting as unregistered foreign agent and pardoned by Trump in December 2020.}}

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{{MetaDescription|Mark Siljander, former Michigan congressman, was convicted of obstruction and acting as unregistered foreign agent and pardoned by Trump in December 2020.}}

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{{Infobox Person
|name = Mark Deli Siljander
|birth_date = June 11, 1951
|birth_place = Chicago, Illinois
|charges = Obstruction of justice, Acting as unregistered foreign agent
|sentence = 1 year
|status = Pardoned
|conviction_date = July 7, 2010
|release_date = December 2020 (pardoned)
}}

'''Mark Deli Siljander''' (born June 11, 1951) is a former American politician who served as the U.S. Representative for Michigan's 4th congressional district from 1981 to 1987. In 2010, Siljander pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and acting as an unregistered foreign agent after receiving $75,000 from the Islamic American Relief Agency to lobby for its removal from a federal list of charities suspected of funding terrorism. He was sentenced to one year in federal prison. President Donald Trump [[Presidential Clemency and Pardons|pardoned]] Siljander in December 2020, citing his pro-life congressional record and post-prison charitable work, though the pardon drew sharp criticism from Republican Congressman Fred Upton, who had defeated Siljander in the 1986 primary.<ref name="crains">Crain's Detroit Business, "Former West Michigan Congressman Mark Siljander gets pardon from Trump," December 2020, https://www.crainsdetroit.com/politics/former-west-michigan-congressman-gets-pardon-trump</ref>

== Summary ==

Mark Siljander was a conservative Republican congressman known for his strong pro-life stance during his time in the House of Representatives in the 1980s. After losing his congressional seat in a 1986 primary challenge from Fred Upton, Siljander moved to Virginia and worked as a consultant and lobbyist.

In 2008, Siljander was indicted on charges related to his work for the Islamic American Relief Agency (IARA), a Missouri-based charity that federal authorities suspected of funneling money to terrorist organizations including figures connected to al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Prosecutors alleged that Siljander was paid $75,000 to lobby for the charity's removal from a government watch list and then lied to investigators about his activities.

After initially pleading not guilty, Siljander eventually accepted a plea deal in 2010. He served a one-year prison sentence. His 2020 pardon by President Trump was controversial, with his former primary opponent Fred Upton expressing strong disappointment.

== Background ==

=== Early Life ===

Mark Deli Siljander was born on June 11, 1951, in Chicago, Illinois. His family later moved to Michigan.

=== Education ===

Siljander earned degrees from Western Michigan University.

== Congressional Career ==

=== Appointment and Election ===

In 1981, Siljander was appointed to fill a vacancy in Michigan's 4th Congressional District. He subsequently won election to the seat in his own right and served three full terms.

=== Conservative Record ===

During his time in Congress, Siljander established himself as one of the most conservative members of the House. He was particularly known for his strong opposition to abortion and his advocacy for pro-life causes.

=== 1986 Primary Defeat ===

In the 1986 Republican primary, Siljander faced a challenge from Fred Upton, a more moderate Republican. Upton defeated Siljander, ending his congressional career. Upton went on to serve in Congress for more than three decades.

== Post-Congressional Career ==

After leaving Congress, Siljander moved to Virginia and worked as a consultant and lobbyist. He also wrote about interfaith dialogue between Christians and Muslims.

== Criminal Case ==

=== The Islamic American Relief Agency ===

The Islamic American Relief Agency (IARA) was a Missouri-based charity that came under federal scrutiny for suspected ties to terrorism. According to a 2008 federal indictment, the charity had transferred approximately $130,000 to Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, an Afghan warlord whom the U.S. government designated as a terrorist with connections to al-Qaeda and the Taliban.<ref name="detroit-news">Detroit News, "Upton: 'Beyond disappointed' with Trump pardon of ex-Michigan congressman," December 2020, https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/24/upton-disappointed-trump-pardon-ex-michigan-congressman/4038723001/</ref>

=== Indictment ===

On January 16, 2008, Siljander was indicted in federal court in Missouri on five counts including money laundering, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors alleged that Siljander received $75,000 from IARA to advocate for the charity's removal from a Senate Finance Committee list of charities suspected of funding terrorism.

The indictment alleged that Siljander then lied to FBI agents and prosecutors about his work for the charity.

=== Guilty Plea ===

Siljander initially pleaded not guilty. However, on July 7, 2010, as part of a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to two counts: obstruction of justice and acting as an unregistered foreign agent. Charges related to money laundering were dropped.<ref name="crains" />

=== Sentencing ===

In 2012, Siljander was sentenced to one year in federal prison and six months of supervised release.

At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Nanette Kay Laughrey noted: "Under the circumstances of this case there was no specific harm by the lobbying efforts that you undertook... The truth is, when you look at this objectively, this is not a case about somebody aiding a terrorist, it just isn't, and it would be wrong of me to, in fact, try to make it out to be that."<ref name="crains" />

U.S. Attorney Beth Phillips, who prosecuted the case, took a different view, stating that Siljander "engaged in illegal lobbying for a charity suspected of funding international terrorism" and "repeatedly lied to FBI agents and prosecutors investigating serious crimes related to national security."

== Presidential Pardon ==

In December 2020, President Donald Trump pardoned Mark Siljander.<ref name="npr">NPR, "Trump Pardons Roger Stone, Paul Manafort And Charles Kushner," December 2020, https://www.npr.org/2020/12/23/949820820/trump-pardons-roger-stone-paul-manafort-and-charles-kushner</ref>

=== Support for Pardon ===

The White House cited Siljander's pro-life record while in Congress and his post-prison work abroad as reasons for the pardon. Supporters of the pardon included:
* Former Attorney General Edwin Meese
* Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich
* Former Governor Mike Huckabee
* Representative Robert Aderholt
* Pastor Andrew Brunson

=== Criticism ===

Republican Congressman Fred Upton, who had defeated Siljander in the 1986 primary and represented the same Michigan district for decades, sharply criticized the pardon.

Upton stated: "I am beyond disappointed the President used his pardon authority on Mark Siljander, who accepted a plea bargain and lesser charges and still served a year in federal prison after having been indicted with a series of federal crimes including obstruction of justice, money laundering, and lobbying for an international terrorist group with ties to Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda, and the Taliban."<ref name="detroit-news" />

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

{{FAQSection/Start}}

{{FAQ
|question = What did Mark Siljander do?
|answer = Siljander was convicted of obstruction of justice and acting as an unregistered foreign agent. He received $75,000 from the Islamic American Relief Agency to lobby for its removal from a federal list of charities suspected of funding terrorism. The charity had been accused of transferring money to figures connected to al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Siljander lied to FBI agents and prosecutors about his activities.<ref name="detroit-news" />
}}

{{FAQ
|question = Was Mark Siljander pardoned?
|answer = Yes, President Trump [[Presidential Clemency and Pardons|pardoned]] Siljander in December 2020. The pardon was supported by Edwin Meese, Newt Gingrich, Mike Huckabee, Robert Aderholt, and Andrew Brunson. The White House cited his pro-life congressional record and post-prison charitable work.<ref name="crains" />
}}

{{FAQ
|question = How long was Mark Siljander's prison sentence?
|answer = Siljander was sentenced to one year in federal prison and six months supervised release in 2012. The sentencing judge noted the case was "not about somebody aiding a terrorist" and no specific harm resulted from his lobbying. He served his sentence before receiving the pardon.<ref name="crains" />
}}

{{FAQ
|question = What was Mark Siljander's congressional career?
|answer = Siljander represented Michigan's 4th District from 1981 to 1987. He was first appointed to fill a vacancy, then won election. He was known as a strongly conservative, pro-life member. He lost his seat in the 1986 Republican primary to Fred Upton, who served for decades.<ref name="crains" />
}}

{{FAQ
|question = Who criticized Mark Siljander's pardon?
|answer = Fred Upton, who defeated Siljander in 1986 and succeeded him in Congress, strongly criticized the pardon. Upton said he was "beyond disappointed" and noted Siljander had been "indicted with a series of federal crimes including obstruction of justice, money laundering, and lobbying for an international terrorist group with ties to Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda, and the Taliban."<ref name="detroit-news" />
}}

{{FAQSection/End}}

== See also ==

* [[Presidential Clemency and Pardons]]
* [[Politicians]]

== References ==

<references />

[[Category:High-Profile_Federal_Offenders]]
[[Category:Pardoned]]
[[Category:Politicians]]

Mark Siljander - Revision history

Maintenance script: Update SEO title to Name - Descriptor format

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