TENSE

Egypt Charges 19 Americans

Sets criminal trial for nonprofit groups.

Egypt’s military government is moving ahead with its threat to charge 19 Americans on trial. The Americans, along with two dozen others, are being charged with violating Hosni Mubarak–era licensing laws designed to control nonprofit groups. If Egypt wanted to provoke a political backlash, they picked the right target: the two American-financed groups have close ties to the congressional leadership, and one of the Americans to be charged is Sam LaHood, son of Ray LaHood, the secretary of transportation. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, President Obama, and members of Congress all have warned that the move would jeopardize the $1.55 billion in aid Egypt expects from the U.S. this year.