Former West Michigan congressman speaks out concerning his charges

(NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A former West Michigan congressman is facing indictment and trial.

Mark Siljander served as a republican congressman from West Michigan from 1981 to 1987. Since then he's run a consulting firm, worked overseas on behalf of the U.S. and even written a book

But in January 2008 Siljander was indicted on charges that he worked for an Islamic charity that landed on the U.S. list of charity organizations with links to terrorist groups.

But Siljander is now speaking out about his work and how he ended up with a federal indictment.

We talked to Mark Siljander via satellite from Florida. He says investigators have it wrong and many don't understand his work, or just oppose it.

It was never meant to aid terror, in fact it was the opposite.

If you type Mark Siljander into Google you'll find words like indicted and terror next to his name. They are accusations that the former West Michigan congressman has lived with for over a year.

"You come up with all kinds of bizarre accusations for things that have little or nothing to do with the actual charges in this particular case, and of course I can't get into those details but suffice it to say that these charges relate domestically to a domestic 501c3 that even the U.S. government has been involved with," said Siljander.

Siljander was charged in early 2008 for allegedly lobbying on behalf of the Islamic American Relief Agency after the group was investigated for funneling money to Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a Taliban leader on the us list of global terrorists.

Siljander says his work with the group was nothing more than a few phone calls.

"In terms of the indictment all the issues, I'd like people to know they're untrue, that there is a deadly misunderstanding and that what I'm actually charged with in the end has nothing to do with terrorism," said Siljander.

Siljander says that he tried to use his passion for politics to create a better understanding between Christians and Muslims.

"For many people who do know me and know my work over not just a few months but over decades trying to build bridges and peace, they're unorthodox indeed and they do involve spiritual camaraderie," said Siljander.

It may have been those unorthodox efforts that attracted a federal investigation.

The U.S. Attorney in western Missouri which levied the indictment says Siljander is facing five counts including money laundering, obstruction and conspiracy.

"Unfortunately what I am accused of is, compared to what one would reads on Google, is so radically different and diametrically opposed to what the actual charges are it's very difficult," said Siljander.

"It's quite a challenge, and our kids are in college and it's been financially devastating, my reputation has been raked over the coals, this very. But slowly but surely people are coming around, the House and the Senate friends are rallying around us and in the end I feel I will be vindicated," said Siljander.

We contacted the U.S. Attorney in Missouri for a comment but no one was available.