Paul slammed the administration's refusal to call the situation in Egypt a coup. Rand Paul: Stop Egypt aid

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Thursday introduced legislation that would cut off foreign aid to Egypt following last week’s military ousting of President Mohamed Morsi.

Paul has made several comments throughout the week insisting that the events in Egypt constitute a military coup and has criticized the Obama administration for its commitment to continue providing foreign aid to the country.


The United States is forbidden by law to give aid to countries where a military overthrow of a democratically elected government has occurred. The administration has maintained, however, that the events in Egypt do not constitute a coup.

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“By the President’s refusal to call the situation in Egypt a ‘coup’ and continuing the flow of foreign assistance to Egypt, he is forthrightly saying ‘I am ignoring the rule of law,’” Paul said in a statement.

Paul’s bill is the first legislation in Congress directly addressing the matter, but several other senators — most notably Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) — have expressed the belief that the U.S. should withhold aid to Egypt.

Members of Congress in both chambers, however, are split over the upheaval. While some have called for an end to military aid to Egypt, others like House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) have lauded the action as occurring “on behalf of the citizens.”

On Wednesday, President Barack Obama ordered a review of the U.S. aid given to Egypt, but the administration has maintained that the U.S. would not take sides.