House Foreign Affairs Committee Subpoenas Blinken over Afghanistan Withdrawal

The House Foreign Affairs Committee has subpoenaed Secretary of State Antony Blinken to testify about the Biden administration's withdrawal from Afghanistan. The committee is seeking information about Blinken's role in the withdrawal, which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and the Taliban's takeover of the country.

The committee's chairman, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), said in a letter to Blinken that the committee has been investigating the withdrawal for years and that Blinken is "in a position to inform the Committee’s consideration of potential legislation aimed at helping prevent the catastrophic mistakes of the withdrawal."

The State Department has not yet responded to the subpoena. However, a spokesperson for the department said in a statement that "it is disappointing that instead of continuing to engage with the Department in good faith, the Committee instead has issued yet another unnecessary subpoena."

The committee's investigation into the withdrawal is ongoing. It is unclear when Blinken will appear before the committee.

Trump Visits Arlington National Cemetery to Honor Fallen Service Members

Former President Donald Trump visited Arlington National Cemetery last month to honor the 13 U.S. service members who were killed in the Afghanistan withdrawal. Trump participated in a wreath-laying ceremony and spoke with the families of the fallen soldiers.

Trump has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration's handling of the withdrawal. He has said that the withdrawal was "a disaster" and that it has made the United States less safe.

The parents of the deceased service members have also criticized the Biden administration. They have said that their children "lost a child because of Biden and because of Kamala, just as though they had a gun in their head because it was so badly handled."

The Biden administration has defended its handling of the withdrawal. President Biden has said that the withdrawal was necessary to end the United States' longest war and that it was carried out in a responsible manner.