House Republicans have issued a subpoena demanding testimony from Secretary of State Antony Blinken as they conclude a lengthy investigation into the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. The subpoena, sent by Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, orders Blinken to appear before the committee by Sept. 19 or face a contempt of Congress charge.
McCaul stated that Blinken, as the final decision maker for the department on the withdrawal and evacuation, is in a position to provide valuable insights for potential legislation aimed at preventing similar mistakes in the future.
The State Department spokesman mentioned that Blinken is unable to testify on the proposed dates due to diplomatic travel commitments in September. The Department expressed disappointment at the issuance of the subpoena, highlighting Blinken's extensive prior testimonies on Afghanistan before Congress.
This latest subpoena is part of ongoing efforts by House Republicans to hold the Biden administration accountable for what they perceive as a failure of leadership during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. The committee is set to release an investigative report on the matter next Monday.
While the GOP report is expected to attribute blame to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, independent watchdog reports have highlighted a more nuanced perspective, pointing to decisions made by both the Trump and Biden administrations as key factors in the collapse of Afghanistan's military.
A 2022 report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction concluded that decisions to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan, made by both Trump and Biden, played a significant role in the nation's destabilization. Military leaders have also indicated that their recommendation to leave a small contingent of troops in Afghanistan was not approved.
