House GOP Chairman Initiates Contempt Proceedings Against Blinken for State Department’s Possible Missed Deadline on Afghanistan Records.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas) has scheduled a hearing to consider a resolution holding U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress for not turning over documents detailing the August 2021 military withdrawal and civilian evacuation from Afghanistan.
Mr. McCaul has been seeking State Department records on the Afghanistan evacuation for months, including specific files related to the department’s After-Action Review on Afghanistan (AAR). In a letter on Monday, the Texas Republican informed Mr. Blinken that the responses received so far had been inadequate and verged on contempt.
“The Committee needs these files to complete its investigation and make legislative recommendations for this Congress,” Mr. McCaul’s letter to Mr. Blinken stated. “If the Department fails to produce the priority AAR files by March 6, 2024, the Committee is prepared to hold you in contempt of Congress.”
Mr. McCaul officially scheduled a mark-up hearing on March 7 to consider holding Mr. Blinken in contempt if the desired documents are not provided.
If the State Department does not comply and a majority in the Republican-controlled House agrees, this would make Mr. Blinken the second member of President Biden’s cabinet to face reprimand from Congress within a month. On Feb. 13, the House voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over border control issues.
If a contempt resolution is passed in the House, it could prompt the Department of Justice to consider pressing criminal charges against Mr. Blinken.
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The State Department was central in handling the Afghanistan withdrawal as the U.S.-backed government collapsed in 2021. They coordinated evacuations and negotiations with the Taliban for safe passage at Kabul airport.
The State Department’s 2022 AAR highlighted challenges in predicting the government’s collapse, evacuations post-military withdrawal, citizen location issues, and non-citizen evacuations.
State Department Balancing House Records Request With ‘Executive Branch Equities’
Mr. McCaul began seeking State Department records on Jan. 12, 2023, and made a legal demand by July 18. Despite partial responses, further requests and negotiations have yet to yield all desired documents.
If the State Department doesn’t meet the March 6 deadline, discussions will continue with Congress for a resolution.
