House committee moves to hold Biden-Harris Secretary of State Blinken in contempt for refusing to appear to testify on Afghanistan withdrawal—going to the UN instead

House Republicans have moved to hold Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress as well as formally condemn some in the Biden-Harris administration over the botched pull-out in Afghanistan in August 2021. 

The 62-year-old Secretary of State has been subpoenaed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee and is scheduled to testify before Congress on Tuesday over the withdrawal. Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) is expecting that Blinken will not show up to the meeting, per the New York Post. Blinked will, however, be at the 79th United Nations General Assembly. 

The committee wrote in its contempt report over the Afghanistan withdrawal, “Despite repeated warnings and accommodations, Secretary Blinken refused to appear to provide his testimony before the Committee. Accordingly, Secretary Blinken has violated federal law, and must be held in contempt of Congress.” 

Contempt of Congress is usually punishable by up to $100,000 in fines as well as one month to one year in prison. Steve Bannon as well as other former Trump aides have been given jail time for being held in contempt of Congress in relation to testifying about January 6.  

The blistering report on the botched Afghanistan withdrawal that saw 13 US service members get killed and others wounded at the bombing of Abbey Gate was released, and indicated that the Biden-Harris administration had its mind set on pulling out of the country and disregarded the advice of allies as well as advisers over the matter. It also points to Blinken for allowing the US embassy in Kabul to remain open for too long amid the withdrawal. Vice President Kamala Harris has touted the decision to pull out, saying that she was the last person in the room with Biden when the final choice was made.  

"Blinken’s testimony is necessary to address the findings of the Report, as well as to address the legislative proposals set forth therein. The State Department played a critical role in executing all elements of the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan," the contempt resolution stated.  

When the Post reached out to Blinken's office for comment, spokesman Mathew Miller said that the timing was off and that the panel "can’t just set a date when [Blinken] has scheduled meetings to go [to and] participate in a [United Nations] Security Council meeting," adding, "I will reiterate what we have told the committee privately and what I have said publicly, which is the Secretary is willing to come and testify before that committee."

A spokesman for the House Foreign Affairs Committee told the outlet that Blinken had been “given four months’ notice that his testimony would be required in September” and decided not to pick a date.