Congressman Tom Price (R-GA) issued the following statement in response to the Obama administration’s continued, indefensible actions toward the people and government of Honduras. The U.S. State Department has recently suspended all non-humanitarian aid to the country, declared former President Manuel Zelaya’s removal from office a “coup,” and revoked the travel visas of interim President Roberto Micheletti and other Honduran government officials.

“Former Honduran President Zelaya was legally removed from office last June by direction of that nation’s highest court,” said Congressman Price. “This legal action was sadly necessary due to Mr. Zelaya’s violation of the Honduran Constitution. His removal from office was not a coup; it was a constitutionally mandated necessity. The Obama administration’s erroneous assertion to the contrary indicates a shocking lack of understanding. Rather than supporting the constitutional and democratic process in Honduras, the Obama administration continues to demand that Mr. Zelaya be reinstated.

“As a protégé of Hugo Chavez, Mr. Zelaya’s unconstitutional desire for a second term as president was not only illegal, it was unacceptable to Hondurans who cherish the rule of law and their representative government. It is time for President Obama to show that he stands on the side of freedom, liberty, and constitutional law both here and abroad.”