Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee is moving forward with holding Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt for failing to comply with a congressional subpoena.
Let’s bring you up to speed: Chairman Michael McCaul of the House Foreign Affairs Committee subpoenaed Secretary of State Antony Blinken to testify about a report critical of the Biden administration’s Afghanistan withdrawal. The report, released on September 8 after a three-year investigation, prompted McCaul to demand Blinken’s testimony. Despite Blinken previously testifying on the broader topic, McCaul insisted on addressing this specific report.
Blinken’s view: A State Department spokesman said Secretary Blinken could not comply with the subpoena and testify because he was already committed to attending the United Nations General Assembly, which is currently being held in New York City. In a letter to Chairman Comer over the weekend, Secretary Blinken made it clear that he was willing to cooperate and testify on alternative dates or could send top aides to testify on his behalf.
Republicans view: In a statement, Chairman McCaul said, “Let the record reflect that for four months, I patiently asked for and waited on his availability in September. But instead of working with me, Secretary Blinken made false promises and accused me of politicizing this important issue.”
Democrats view: Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee strongly criticized the committee’s actions, arguing that the push to hold Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt was politically motivated and aimed at influencing the upcoming November elections. Ranking member Gregory Meeks (D-NY) said, “This investigation is just not about serious fact-finding or oversight, it’s about narrowing the scope of the end of the United States longest war to just a few months of the Biden administration, not for the purpose of getting the facts right… but to play politics. Why is there suddenly a rush to hold this contempt vote when the secretary has made it very clear, time and time again, that he’s willing to testify.”
What the report found: The House Foreign Affairs Committee’s three-year investigation found major failures in the Biden administration’s handling of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. The report criticized inadequate planning, poor decision-making, and a failure to anticipate the speed of the Taliban’s advance. It highlighted the chaotic evacuation at Kabul’s airport, which led to the loss 13 US military personnel, and pointed to the administration’s failure to secure key infrastructure and manage intelligence assessments effectively. The report concluded that these shortcomings contributed to the rapid Taliban takeover, resulting in a humanitarian and geopolitical disaster.
