Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) blasted President Obama's handling of the detention of 19 Americans by Egypt's government, comparing him to former President Carter and his management of the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis.
"We now have the Obama hostage crisis to resemble the Carter hostage crisis," said Gingrich, a presidential hopeful, at an event in Golden, Colo., on Monday.
Egypt announced this weekend that 43 foreign nonprofit workers, including 19 Americans, who had been banned from leaving the country would be put on trial. Egypt has accused the workers who are promoting free elections of receiving foreign funding and not registering with the government.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's son is among members of the group being held for trial.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Saturday that U.S. funding could be pulled if Egypt doesn't resolve the situation. Egypt is expected to receive $1.3 billion in military aid from Washington.
“We are very clear that there are problems that arise from this situation that can impact all the rest of our relationship in Egypt,” Clinton told reporters during a visit to Germany. “We don't want that.”
Despite the threats to cut off aid, the Egyptian government has refused to reverse course.
