On Monday, allegations by government officials and media about U.S. involvement in the coup became so rampant that the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, John Bass, issued a statement denying any truth to the speculation.

“Some news reports — and, unfortunately, some public figures — have speculated that the United States in some way supported the coup attempt,” Bass said in his statement. “This is categorically untrue, and such speculation is harmful to the decades-long friendship between two great nations.”

Read more at USA Today