Congress split on cutting off aid to Egypt

By Stephen Ohlemacher

Published August 19, 2013 4:21am ET

Add Washington Examiner on Google

Congress split on cutting off aid to Egypt — In this photo taken March 10, 2011, Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., the first Muslim elected to Congress, becomes emotional as he testifies before the House Homeland Security Committee on the extent of the radicalization of American Muslims on Capitol Hill in Washington. Democratic leaders have generally supported President Barack Obama's stance on Egypt. But Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013, Ellison said, "I would cut off aid but engage in intense diplomacy in Egypt and in the region to try to say, look, we will restore aid when you stop the bloodshed in the street and set up a path towards democracy that you were on before." He said, "In my mind, there's no way to say that this was not a coup. It is. We should say so. And then follow our own law, which says we cannot fund the coup leaders." (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) | Alex Brandon

WASHINGTON (AP) — Members of Congress are split over whether the U.S. should cut off military aid to Egypt, highlighting the difficult choices facing the Obama administration amid spiraling violence on the streets of an important Middle East ally.

Democratic leaders have generally supported the president’s approach. But on Sunday, Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., said he would end aid to Egypt. Ellison is the first Muslim elected to Congress and is co-chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Digital subscriber? Click here to login/register your account.

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.

Tag:

Nation