Egypt's Mubarak Officially Acquitted on Corruption Charges

As Egypt continues exploding in violence, Hosni Mubarak, the country's former leader for nearly three decades, was acquitted of corruption charges.

A picture of ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak is placed on the back of a supporter outside the police academy in Cairo during a hearing in his retrial on July 6, 2013. Lawyers for Mubarak entered a not guilty plea when his retrial for alleged complicity in the killings of protesters in 2011 resumed. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Mubarak was the Egyptian president from 1981 to 2011 when he was ousted after a popular uprising that was part of the “Arab Spring.” Mubarak could still face charges for the killing of hundreds of demonstrators, but his attorney Fareed El-Deeb said his client would be free man for now after the acquittal.

After initially being sentenced to life for the killing of protestors, Mubarak challenged the verdict and was granted a new trial, yet to be set. As TheBlaze noted early Monday, Egyptian court officials told the Associated Press that Mubarak could gain freedom ahead of a retrial. Under Egyptian law, a retrial must be held within two years.

Mubarak was ousted and the military took over the government before a transition to democracy, when Mohammed Morsi, of the Muslim Brotherhood, was elected president. Morsi was deposed after a year in office after similar demonstrations that led to Mubarak's ouster. Military is again in charge of the government and is cracking down on pro-Morsi activist.

(H/T: The Washington Times, The Los Angeles Times)

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