House Republicans Subpoena Blinken Over Chaotic Afghanistan Withdrawal

House Republicans have subpoenaed Secretary of State Antony Blinken for testimony regarding the 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Blinken has been asked to testify by September 19. The investigation aims to prevent similar future errors. McCaul criticizes the testimony's timing, while Blinken's department offers alternatives.

House Republicans have issued a subpoena demanding testimony from Secretary of State Antony Blinken as they conclude a yearslong investigation into the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.

Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, sent a subpoena letter late Tuesday, ordering Blinken to appear before the committee by September 19 or face a contempt of Congress charge. "You served as the final decision maker for the department on the withdrawal and evacuation," McCaul wrote.

He added that three years later, Blinken is ''in a position to inform the Committee's consideration of potential legislation aimed at helping prevent the catastrophic mistakes of the withdrawal, including potential reforms to the Department's legislative authorisation." State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Blinken is unable to testify on the proposed dates as he will be traveling for diplomatic work for most of September. Miller noted that the committee denied "reasonable alternatives" to the subpoena date. "The Secretary has testified before Congress on Afghanistan more than 14 times — more than any other Cabinet-level official," Miller said, adding that four of those times were directly before the Foreign Affairs committee at McCaul's request. "It is disappointing that instead of continuing to engage with the Department in good faith, the Committee instead has issued yet another unnecessary subpoena."

Subpoenaing Blinken is the latest move by McCaul and other House Republicans to hold the Biden administration accountable for what they call a "stunning failure of leadership" during the rapid Taliban takeover of Kabul as US forces withdrew.

The committee is expected to summarize its work in an investigative report to be released Monday amidst a contentious presidential election. Reports by the independent watchdog Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction have indicated that decisions made by both President Trump and Biden were key factors in the collapse of Afghanistan's military, contradicting partisan blame.

(With inputs from agencies.)