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Secretary of State Antony Blinken keeps ducking requests to appear before the House Foreign Affairs Committee regarding the Biden-Harris screwup with the Afghanistan withdrawal that resulted in the deaths of 13 US service personnel. So Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) issued a subpoena.
McCaul, in his letter says that he asked Blinken several times for a commitment to show up to the Committee, but he didn't, neither for the May 22, 2024 or August 12, 2024 hearings, which requested he confirm by August 19th that he would show up for the September 10, 2024 hearing. The letter included a warning to Blinken.
Crickets.
"This letter further indicated that should you choose 'not to appear voluntarily,' I would be obligated to proceed with compulsory process to compel your appearance. The Committee is holding this hearing because the Department of State was central to the Afghanistan withdrawal and served as the senior authority during the August non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO)," this September 3 letter pointed out. "As Secretary of State throughout the withdrawal and NEO, you were entrusted to lead these efforts and to secure the safe evacuation of Americans and Afghan allies. In testimony before the Committee, current and former State Department officials have confirmed that you served as the final decision-maker for the Department on the withdrawal and evacuation. You are therefore 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 authorization."
"Pursuant to your request for a telephone call and our subsequent discussion on August 19 – the response deadline – I informed you that the Committee’s report on the withdrawal will be released on September 9 and that you needed to appear at a hearing to address the findings set forth in the report. During this call, in the interest of the investigation, I agreed to provide you with additional time to finalize a scheduled date for your appearance, which you indicated would be “nail[ed] []down in the next week," McCaul wrote.
McCaul further reminded that there were additional attempts to secure assurances from Blinken regarding his appearance. These included communications from Committee Staff to the Department on August 26 and August 27. Another request was made as recently as August 30.
"This letter further indicated that should you choose 'not to appear voluntarily,' I would be obligated to proceed with compulsory process to compel your appearance. The Committee is holding this hearing because the Department of State was central to the Afghanistan withdrawal and served as the senior authority during the August non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO)," this September 3 letter pointed out. "As Secretary of State throughout the withdrawal and NEO, you were entrusted to lead these efforts and to secure the safe evacuation of Americans and Afghan allies. In testimony before the Committee, current and former State Department officials have confirmed that you served as the final decision-maker for the Department on the withdrawal and evacuation. You are therefore 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 authorization."
"Pursuant to your request for a telephone call and our subsequent discussion on August 19 – the response deadline – I informed you that the Committee’s report on the withdrawal will be released on September 9 and that you needed to appear at a hearing to address the findings set forth in the report. During this call, in the interest of the investigation, I agreed to provide you with additional time to finalize a scheduled date for your appearance, which you indicated would be “nail[ed] []down in the next week," McCaul wrote.
McCaul further reminded that there were additional attempts to secure assurances from Blinken regarding his appearance. These included communications from Committee Staff to the Department on August 26 and August 27. Another request was made as recently as August 30.
But who are we kidding? Blinken et al, are above the law because we allow it and the media covers for our top politicians.
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