As the Egyptian military wrests control from the Islamist government of President Mohammed Morsi, U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy warned that the United States must reconsider its $1.5 billion in annual military and economic assistance to Egypt.
"Egypt's military leaders say they have no intent or desire to govern, and I hope they make good on their promise," Leahy, who chairs the Senate appropriations Subcommittee on the State Department and Foreign Operations, said Wednesday.
"In the meantime, our law is clear: U.S. aid is cut off when a democratically elected government is deposed by military coup or decree," added the Vermont Democrat.
Leahy said that his committee will review future aid in the upcoming budget discussions.
"As we work on the new budget, my committee also will review future aid to the Egyptian government as we wait for a clearer picture," he explained.
Leahy ended his statement by saying that as the world's oldest democracy, "this is a time to reaffirm our commitment to the principle that transfers of power should be by the ballot, not by force of arms."
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