However others speculated that the decision not to loan the carpet was fear of negative reaction from Turkey. US Congressman Adam Schiff (D-California) said in an interview, "It's hard for me to reach any conclusion but that they don't want to offend Turkey. If that's their motivation, that's completely unacceptable".[10] The Armenian National Committee of America linked the refusal to loan the carpet to President Barack Obama's position on the Armenian Genocide, citing his refusal to officially recognize the Genocide, his blocking of Congressional legislation to mark the event, his Solicitor General's opposition to efforts in U.S. courts to allow American citizens to pursue Genocide-era property claims, and his administration's sending of senior officials to speak at events organized by Armenian Genocide deniers while refusing to attend Congressional observances of the Genocide.[11]