A US congressional panel has decided to postpone a meeting to consider holding Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt over the handling of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. The House Foreign Affairs Committee had scheduled a meeting to discuss a resolution that would hold Blinken in contempt for failing to comply with a subpoena related to the Afghanistan withdrawal.
The decision to postpone the meeting comes as lawmakers continue to express frustration over the Biden administration's handling of the situation in Afghanistan. The US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August was marked by chaos and confusion, with the Taliban quickly regaining control of the country.
Lawmakers have been seeking answers from the Biden administration about the decision-making process that led to the chaotic withdrawal and the subsequent collapse of the Afghan government. The subpoena issued to Blinken requested documents related to the withdrawal, but the State Department has not fully complied with the request.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee had warned Blinken that failure to comply with the subpoena could result in a contempt citation. The decision to postpone the meeting indicates that lawmakers are serious about holding the Secretary of State accountable for his actions.
While the meeting has been postponed, it is clear that lawmakers are not backing down in their efforts to hold the Biden administration accountable for its handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal. The situation in Afghanistan remains a point of contention in Washington, with lawmakers from both parties calling for a full investigation into the events that led to the chaotic withdrawal.
It remains to be seen when the House Foreign Affairs Committee will reschedule the meeting to consider holding Blinken in contempt. In the meantime, the Biden administration continues to face scrutiny over its handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the country.
