Report: Obama to tell lawmakers there was no coup in Egypt

The Obama administration will tell lawmakers on Thursday that it won’t declare Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi’s ouster a military coup, The Associated Press reports.

The move allows the United States to keep open a $1.5 billion-a-year aid spigot to the Arab world’s most populous country. U.S. law prohibits direct aid to countries where democratically elected leaders are deposed by the military.

A handful of lawmakers – most notably hawkish Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) – have said the law is clear, and the administration must cut off aid, however reluctantly. 

{mosads}Others, however, say the decision rests with the White House and urged a continuation of aid. Both the House and Senate spending panels adopted foreign aid bills this week that retain funding for Egypt, albeit with new conditions stipulating a rapid return to elected government.

“Everyone is closely watching the situation in Egypt, and the relationship between the United States and Egypt has never been more critical,” said Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas), the chairwoman of the Appropriations subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. “For that reason, this bill continues funding if certain conditions are met.”

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