Antony Blinken failed to attend a congressional hearing on the Biden-Harris administration’s mishandled withdrawal from Afghanistan on Tuesday, defying a subpoena from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. This sets the stage for Blinken to become the first secretary of state to face contempt of Congress charges.
The committee had ordered Blinken to testify about the chaotic 2021 evacuation, during which the Taliban regained control, and 13 American service members lost their lives. Additionally, a recently released report highlights the U.S. abandonment of classified information, biometric data, and millions in cash during the withdrawal.
However, Blinken’s absence was explained by the State Department, citing his obligations at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. “The committee received a letter stating the secretary will not come,” noted a GOP committee source, adding that Blinken had offered his deputies, neither of whom was involved in the 2021 Afghanistan exit, instead of proposing another date for his own testimony.
Blinken’s defiance infuriated GOP committee members, including Chairman Michael McCaul (R., Texas), who is now advancing a motion to hold Blinken in contempt of Congress. If passed, Blinken would become the first secretary of state held in contempt, a misdemeanor carrying potential fines and imprisonment.
McCaul said during the hearing that Blinken “willingly defied this subpoena.” The committee plans to reconvene to initiate the contempt proceedings. In an interview with the Free Beacon, McCaul suggested Blinken might have faced political pressure to avoid testifying before the election, stating, “They were trying to push my report and investigation until after the election.”
While the State Department claimed Blinken could not attend the September 24 hearing due to U.N. obligations, sources revealed that Blinken had been given any day in September to testify. Additionally, Blinken’s public schedule showed no events until 1:30 p.m. on the day of the hearing.
The contempt resolution, obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, highlights the significant failures of the Afghanistan withdrawal and places the blame on Blinken, noting that only he could provide the necessary answers to the committee’s inquiry. It also details the State Department’s ongoing obstruction throughout the investigation, including withholding documents and witnesses, prompting multiple subpoenas.
The committee’s investigation into the Afghanistan exit exposed major planning failures by the State Department, which contributed to the deaths of American personnel and allowed the Taliban to swiftly reclaim power, turning Afghanistan into a haven for terrorists.
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