Secretary Blinken to Answer for the Findings in My Afghanistan Report

I know my Republican colleagues and I will ask direct questions to get answers and shape better policy for the next Congress and the Trump administration.

Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, D.C. –This September, I released a comprehensive, 350-page investigative report about the Biden-Harris administration’s botched Afghanistan withdrawal, which damaged America’s reputation globally, emboldened our adversaries, and — horrifically — led to the death of 13 American servicemembers. As head of the State Department during that time, Secretary Antony Blinken’s testimony is crucial in providing answers to the American people and informing legislation to prevent a disaster like this one from ever happening again.

That’s why, in May 2024, I asked Secretary Blinken to testify before my committee in September following the release of my report to discuss its findings. At the time, he said his team would work with mine to schedule an appearance. But from May to September, the secretary never scheduled a date for his hearing. In fact, he claimed he was not available any day in September and instead tried to offer two deputies to testify in his place. Neither of them even worked at the State Department during the withdrawal.

Since the secretary would not come in voluntarily, I issued a subpoena to compel his testimony, which he also violated by failing to appear at our scheduled committee hearing. His obstruction forced me to move forward with a report recommending the House of Representatives hold him in contempt of Congress. It was only when House Republicans threatened to bring that contempt vote to the House floor that Secretary Blinken saw the writing on the wall. After months of stonewalling from the State Department, I finally secured Secretary Blinken’s commitment to appear before my committee on December 11th.

I trust that his testimony will provide long-overdue accountability and transparency for the American people, our servicemembers, Afghan allies, and our Gold Star families. While I wish he had not delayed this crucial appearance until the end of his time as Secretary of State, I look forward to hearing his testimony.

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