Chicago – November 26, 2024
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has agreed to testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) about the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, following months of requests and the threat of a contempt of Congress vote.
The hearing will take place on December 11, 2024, more than three years after the chaotic withdrawal. Blinken had already testified before a Democrat-controlled committee in September 2021, but his answers were not enough for Republican leaders.
HFAC Chairman Michael McCaul, a Republican from Texas, argued that Blinken’s 2021 testimony lacked important details since the committee hadn’t yet started its full investigation.
The committee’s findings later showed that some of Blinken’s statements about the withdrawal and evacuation were misleading.
Although Blinken initially refused to comply with a subpoena for further testimony, he is now set to appear after facing mounting pressure. This hearing will provide a chance for more in-depth questioning about the Biden administration’s handling of the withdrawal.
