The State Department has criticized House Republicans for issuing a subpoena for testimony regarding the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The department accused the Republicans of scheduling hearings on days when Secretary of State Antony Blinken was unavailable to appear.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by a Texas Republican, initially set a hearing for a day when Blinken was overseas in Egypt and France. The date was later changed to a day when Blinken will be attending the U.N. General Assembly in New York and President Joe Biden's speech.
The State Department spokesperson stated that the committee was informed well in advance about Blinken's schedule, indicating that the Republicans may not be acting in good faith. The committee chairman, on the other hand, accused the department of being disingenuous for not agreeing to a September date for Blinken's testimony.
This subpoena is part of ongoing efforts by House Republicans to hold the Biden administration accountable for what they perceive as a failure in leadership during the Afghan withdrawal. Former President Donald Trump has also criticized the administration over the chaotic exit from Afghanistan.
Blinken has testified about Afghanistan multiple times, including before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The State Department expressed willingness for Blinken to testify again at a mutually convenient time, but noted the upcoming congressional recess.
Recently, House Republicans released a report blaming the Biden administration for the botched end to the war in Afghanistan. The report highlighted failures in planning for the collapse of the Afghan government and the subsequent evacuation of U.S. personnel and allies.
While the report did not reveal new information, it reiterated previous findings that the blame for the Afghanistan situation extends across multiple administrations, with both Biden and Trump sharing significant responsibility.
