House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul is threatening to hold Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress if he fails to comply with a subpoena to testify about the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Despite releasing a scathing 350-page report on the withdrawal, Rep. Michael McCaul, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is determined to haul in Secretary of State Antony Blinken to account for his role in the debacle. McCaul has threatened to hold Blinken in contempt if he does not appear before the committee by the stipulated September 19 deadline.
McCaul's frustrations stem from the State Department's repeated failures to provide a date for Blinken's appearance. The committee had requested his testimony in May for a hearing in September, but the State Department has remained non-committal.
McCaul Threatens Contempt As Blinken Defies Afghanistan Withdrawal Report
In response to the mounting pressure, the State Department has defended Blinken's record, maintaining that he has testified before House and Senate committees 14 times on the withdrawal, including four times before the Foreign Affairs Committee.
McCaul dismisses these claims, arguing that the State Department "waited until the report was completely finished to come back to us." He also warns of the consequences of Blinken's continued absence, stating that "This was a catastrophic failure of epic proportions... This is a disgrace. I will hold him in contempt if that’s what it takes to bring him before the American people."
McCaul Threatens Contempt As Blinken Defies Afghanistan Withdrawal Report
McCaul's accusations are echoed by other Republicans on the committee. Rep. Mike Turner, Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee, has also criticized the State Department's lack of cooperation, calling it "a slap in the face" to Congress.
State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel has downplayed the committee's threats, suggesting that the Republican majority is more interested in political grandstanding than in legislating.
McCaul Threatens Contempt As Blinken Defies Afghanistan Withdrawal Report
McCaul's report also highlights the controversial departure of U.S. Ambassador Ross Wilson in mid-July 2021. According to the report, Wilson left the country while on vacation, allegedly forcing a foreign service officer to take his COVID-19 test so he could board a plane.
Wilson has denied the COVID-19 allegation, calling it "false." He also maintains that he was not on vacation at the beginning of August and that he was the last diplomat to leave Afghanistan after the U.S. ended its military presence.
McCaul Threatens Contempt As Blinken Defies Afghanistan Withdrawal Report
Patel has come to Wilson's defense, stating that "this is an esteemed individual, a decorated Foreign Service officer." He also claims that the report "chose scandal over substance."
Despite the State Department's efforts to deflect blame, McCaul and his fellow Republicans remain steadfast in their pursuit of accountability. The investigation into the Afghanistan withdrawal is ongoing, and the committee's subpoena to Blinken is a significant step towards ensuring that all parties involved are held responsible.
