Mubarak Denies Corruption, Abuse of Power

As Investigations Begin, Former Dictator Threatens Lawsuits in Speech

Long-standing Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak was on Egyptian state television Sunday, in his first appearance since his resignation in February. The broadcast came as Mubarak and his sons face new investigations into embezzlement and massacres of protesters.

Mubarak was entirely unrepentant in the taped message, however, saying he had behaved appropriately at all times, and that his resignation, in the face of mass protests, was an act of patriotism.

Mubarak was accused by officials with the new military junta of having successfully embezzled potentially hundreds of billions of dollars into his personal accounts. He insisted these were lies and suggested he would file lawsuits in the future to protect his reputation.

After decades of ruling virtually uncontested, Mubarak has gone from a fear leader to one of the most reviled men in Egypt, with protesters still taking to the streets from time to time calling for the execution of him and his son, Gamal.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.