Egyptian judges: NGO workers face up to five years in prison (+video)

He also said the evidence included maps taken from IRI’s office that had English writing on them and divided Egypt up into provinces. That seemed an attempt to link the organization to the widely propagated conspiracy theory that the US and other Western powers are seeking to carve post-Mubarak Egypt into four separate countries. Authorities have often blamed foreign powers of being behind unrest in Egypt since the uprising.

In addition to the American NGOs NDI and IRI, the investigation has also implicated Freedom House, the International Center for Journalists, and the German organization Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. Of at least 16 Americans charged in the case, less than half of them are currently in Egypt, according to State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. Some of the accused have taken refuge in the US embassy, apparently including Sam LaHood, Egypt director for IRI and the son of President Obama's Transportation secretary, Ray LaHood.

US officials have said that Egypt risks losing about $1.3 billion in US aid if it does not halt the case. In a statement released Tuesday, US Sens. John McCain (R) of Arizona, Joe Lieberman (I) of Connecticut, and Kelly Ayotte (R) of New Hampshire said that US aid to Egypt is in “jeopardy” and urged Egypt to reconsider its decision to move ahead with the case.

“There are committed opponents of the United States and the US-Egypt relationship within the government in Cairo who are exacerbating tensions and inflaming public opinion in order to advance a narrow political agenda,” said the statement. “…A rupture in relations would be disastrous, and the risks of such an outcome have rarely been greater.”

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