Statement by Senators McCain and Lieberman on U.S. Lobbying Firms Defending Raids on American NGOs in Egypt

Statement

U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) released the following statement on today's reports that American lobbying firms are defending the Egyptian government's recent raids on the offices of U.S. non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that support human rights and civil society, such as the National Democratic Institute, the International Republican Institute, and Freedom House:
"It is disturbing to read reports that American lobbying firms are profiting from defending the Egyptian government's raids on the offices, and harassment of the staff, of U.S. non-governmental organizations that support human rights and civil society, such as the National Democratic Institute, the International Republican Institute, and Freedom House. It is bad enough when the actions of American lobbyists conflict with U.S. national interests. It is far worse when their influence-peddling undermines American values, as the Egyptian government's lobbyists in Washington are doing in this instance.

"We call on these lobbying firms to urge the Egyptian government to reverse its reckless crackdown on American NGOs, to register these groups immediately, cease its intimidation of the many Egyptians and Americans working for these groups, and return the property confiscated in the unjustified raids against these organizations."

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