Tension is mounting between the United States Department of State and the Republicans in the House of Representatives.
GOP lawmakers are spearheading a probe to better understand—and hold accountable those involved—in America’s disastrous and deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan three years ago. While seeking to get testimony from Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the government agency has accused House Republicans of scheduling hearing dates when they know that Blinken is not available.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, Rep. Michael McCaul, claims that he is working with the secretary’s schedule, in light of the reality that Blinken could face contempt of Congress if he fails to appear to a hearing for which he was subpoenaed. But the GOP representative from Texas had initially scheduled the hearing for September 19, when the secretary was on a trip to France and Egypt.
The date was adjusted to the following Tuesday—but Blinken is set to be attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The precise hearing time conflicts with a speech that will be given by President Joe Biden at the gathering.
McCaul first issued the subpoena on Tuesday September 3. This order required that Blinken testify to the committee by September 19 or risk being charged with contempt of Congress. The secretary was described at the time as the “final decision maker” for the State Department when it came to its decision of the “withdrawal and evacuation” from Afghanistan.
Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the State Department, said in a statement that the GOP-led committee has “unilaterally selected” times about which they have already been informed that Blinken “will not be” in the nation’s capital, available for a hearing. The committee reportedly knew Blinken’s schedule weeks ago, leading Miller to say that their scheduling behavior indicates the committee is not “acting in good faith.”
However, McCaul snapped back, describing the State Department as “disingenuous” for refusing to choose a date this month for the secretary to testify. He added that the committee has been respectful of his busy schedule, saying Blinken would have nobody “to blame but himself” if he is held in contempt of Congress.
