WASHINGTON (TheBlaze/AP) -- Two Republican senators are calling on the Obama administration to suspend U.S. aid amid spiraling violence in Egypt.
Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina traveled to Egypt last week at President Barack Obama's request. McCain and Graham said Friday the interim government and the military are, quote, "taking Egypt down a dark path, one that the United States cannot and should not travel with them."
US Republican Senator John McCain (L) and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (R) address a news conference on August 6, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. The two leading US Senators urged Egypt's leaders to engage in an 'inclusive' dialogue with supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi as a way out of the crippling political crisis. Credit: AFP/Getty Images
Their statement comes amid reports of scores more deaths, as supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi launched demonstrations in defiance of a military-imposed state of emergency.
More than 600 people died Wednesday.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who has had his (many) disagreements with McCain and Graham, has been urging the U.S. to cut aid to Egypt for some time. In his words, we shouldn't be sending money to people who "hate us."
Last month, the Senate killed Paul's effort to cut the $1.3 billion in annual aid to Egypt. The bill would have redirected the funds to address crumbling bridges in the U.S.
Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky speaks at a fundraiser for state Sen. Jack Johnson in Franklin, Tenn., on Sunday, July 28, 2013. Credit: AP
Obama announced Thursday he is scrapping plans for joint U.S.-Egypt military exercises. But the president stopped well short of withholding $1.3 billion in annual U.S. military aid.
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