House Committee Pushes Contempt Charges Against Blinken Over Afghan Exit

The Republican-led House Foreign Affairs Committee has recommended holding Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress for non-compliance with a subpoena regarding the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The panel voted 26-25, prompting a call for the full House to vote on the matter. The State Department hasn't commented.

The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee voted on Tuesday to hold Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress. The decision comes after Blinken failed to comply with a congressional subpoena demanding information about the chaotic 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The committee voted 26-25 in favor of a report recommending that the full House take action. Blinken, who is currently attending the U.N. General Assembly in New York, stated in a letter to committee chairman Rep. Michael McCaul that he had attempted to agree on a suitable time for his testimony and had also suggested alternative witnesses.

The State Department has yet to respond to the vote. The U.S. contempt of Congress statute allows the House or Senate to refer non-compliant witnesses for criminal prosecution. However, the U.S. Justice Department has the final say on whether to file criminal charges. The timeline for a full House vote remains uncertain.

(With inputs from agencies.)