House panel advances contempt resolution against Blinken over Afghanistan testimony

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CBS News

Updated on: September 24, 2024 / 5:35 PM EDT


Washington — The Republican-led House Foreign Affairs Committee voted Tuesday to recommend that Secretary of State Antony Blinken be held in contempt of Congress amid a standoff over the top diplomat's testimony about the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The panel voted 26 to 25 along party lines to advance the proceedings on Tuesday, setting the resolution up to go before the House in what would be the latest formal rebuke by House Republicans of a top Biden administration official. The full House would still need to vote to refer it to the Justice Department for prosecution, and it's highly unlikely that Blinken would be prosecuted by the Biden administration.

In a statement, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller called the vote "a naked political exercise masquerading as oversight, designed only to further the majority's partisan interests under the guise of asking questions that have long ago been answered."

Hours earlier, committee chairman Rep. Michael McCaul briefly gaveled in a hearing, stating that its purpose was to "hear directly from Secretary Blinken" and get his assessment of the withdrawal from Afghanistan. After a long pause, McCaul said, "unfortunately our witness, the Secretary of State Antony Blinken is not present today," before adjourning the hearing and noting his intention to proceed with a markup to "begin the formal process of holding the secretary in contempt of Congress."

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/blinken-contempt-afghanistan-withdrawal-house-foreign-affairs-committee/

[Biophilic]

1. Ah, yes, thank heavens the gop are keeping tabs on the nefarious doings of our Sec of State.

[ChazInAz]

2. Are they planning on making this their Benghazi?

Damn, they're so predictable.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. They have been trying to now for some time

but they will be left sending it to DOJ (IF the full House even authorizes it), which will send it to the circular file. They are at the end of this Congressional session so it's really too late anyway.

It's kabuki theater.