House Republicans vote to hold Secretary Blinken in contempt over Afghanistan withdrawal testimony, escalating tensions between Congress and the State Department.
At a Glance
- House Foreign Affairs Committee voted 26-25 along party lines to hold Secretary Blinken in contempt
- Republicans cite Blinken’s failure to testify about the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan
- Democrats argue the move is a political stunt ahead of the upcoming election
- Blinken expressed disappointment and willingness to testify, offering alternative dates
Committee Vote Sparks Controversy
In a highly contentious move, the Republican-led House Foreign Affairs Committee voted to hold Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress. The vote, which fell strictly along party lines with a 26-25 result, stems from Blinken’s alleged failure to testify about the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.
Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) justified the action, stating that Blinken’s “willful indifference” left them no choice. McCaul emphasized that he had repeatedly requested Blinken’s testimony and even offered flexibility in scheduling, but these efforts were met with what he described as false promises and accusations of politicization.
Secretary Blinken defied my subpoena & refused to select a single day in September to testify before @HouseForeignGOP on my report culminating the committee’s three-year investigation into the Afghanistan withdrawal.
While I take no joy in this, @SecBlinken's failure to comply…
— Michael McCaul (@RepMcCaul) September 24, 2024
Blinken’s Response and Democratic Pushback
Secretary Blinken, who was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly during the vote, expressed disappointment in the committee’s decision. In a letter to McCaul, Blinken stated his willingness to testify and claimed to have offered several reasonable alternative dates.
“As I have made clear, I am willing to testify and have offered several reasonable alternatives to the dates unilaterally demanded by the Committee during which I am carrying out the President’s important foreign policy objectives,” the Secretary of State said.
Democrats on the committee vehemently opposed the contempt vote, characterizing it as political theater and a partisan stunt ahead of the upcoming election. They argued that Blinken has already testified about Afghanistan 14 times, including four appearances before McCaul’s committee.
Implications and Next Steps
The contempt vote marks a significant escalation in the ongoing dispute between congressional Republicans and the Biden administration over the handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal. While the committee’s action is a strong rebuke, it does not carry immediate legal consequences for Blinken.
“Secretary of State Antony Blinken brought this upon himself,” Mr. McCaul said, arguing that he would have accepted any date in September that Mr. Blinken proposed. “His willful indifference has brought us to this moment.”
For the contempt charge to proceed, the full House of Representatives must vote to refer the matter to the Justice Department for prosecution. Given the current political climate, such a move is considered unlikely. Nevertheless, the vote underscores the deep divisions and ongoing controversy surrounding the Afghanistan withdrawal, ensuring that it will remain a contentious issue in the lead-up to the next election cycle.
