Blinken set to testify on Afghanistan withdrawal in House amid looming contempt vote

After months of delay and stonewalling, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has finally agreed to testify in front of the 118th Congress\’ House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) on the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal. The testimony is set to take place on December 11, marking three years since the Biden administration’s controversial withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Blinken’s decision to testify comes after facing the threat of a contempt of Congress vote from the GOP-led committee. Republican HFAC Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, had been seeking Blinken’s testimony since May, but the Secretary had previously refused to comply with the committee’s subpoena for testimony.

In a recent contempt report, McCaul criticized Blinken’s previous testimony in front of the Democrat-controlled committee, stating that it was given before the committee had conducted any investigative interviews or document discovery. The report also accused Blinken of providing misleading accounts of the withdrawal and NEO under his leadership.

In a statement, McCaul expressed his satisfaction with Blinken’s agreement to testify, but noted that it came only after the committee advanced contempt proceedings against him. He emphasized the importance of accountability and transparency for the American people, Afghan allies, and Gold Star families affected by the withdrawal.

The committee spokesperson detailed the efforts made to work with Blinken before resorting to a subpoena, including repeated accommodations and warnings. Despite these efforts, Blinken refused to commit to a testimony date in September and instead suggested that his deputies testify in his place.

After Blinken failed to appear for his scheduled testimony in September, the HFAC voted to recommend holding him in contempt of Congress. The vote, which was split along party lines, prompted the committee to move forward with contempt proceedings.

Following months of back-and-forth, Blinken finally agreed to testify on December 11 after the House Rules Committee began setting terms for a vote on the contempt resolution. The DOS offered dates in December for Blinken’s testimony, with the Secretary ultimately accepting the date of the 11th.

The DOS did not immediately provide comment on Blinken’s decision to testify. It remains to be seen what new information will come to light during Blinken’s testimony and how it will impact future oversight of the Afghanistan withdrawal.