(Fox News) The son of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is among 19 Americans being referred to criminal trial for allegedly receiving foreign funds illegally and being involved in banned activity in Egypt, news agencies reported Sunday. In all, Egyptian officials say 44 non-governmental organization workers will be put before the court after investigating judges claimed they had reason to try the democracy and rights workers. The move is likely to further sour relations between Egypt's military rulers and the U.S., the Arab nation's chief Western backer for more than 30 years. Sam LaHood is head of the Egypt office of the Washington-based International Republican Institute. All 19 of the U.S. aid workers sought shelter in the U.S. embassy in Cairo more than a week ago after they were denied the opportunity to leave the country. After Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met Saturday with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr in Munich, she said: "We are very clear that there are problems that arise from this situation that can impact all the rest of our relationship with Egypt. We do not want that."
2012-02-06 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive