Media Contact 202-226-8467

WASHINGTON – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul announced he secured Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s commitment to appear at a public hearing dedicated to the chairman’s investigation into the Biden-Harris administration’s disastrous 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. The hearing will take place on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.

“After months of good faith efforts that were too often met with stonewalling from the State Department, I’m proud to have secured Secretary Blinken’s appearance before my committee. I trust his testimony will provide some long-overdue accountability and transparency for the American people, our Afghan allies, and our Gold Star families,” said Chairman McCaul. “It’s unfortunate the secretary agreed to appear only after my committee advanced contempt proceedings against him. While I wish he had not delayed this crucial appearance until the end of his tenure as head of the State Department, I look forward to hearing his testimony and asking poignant questions to help House Republicans and the next administration ensure nothing like this ever happens again.”

Background:

On September 24, 2024, Secretary Blinken failed to appear for a scheduled hearing on the chairman’s investigation into Afghanistan, violating a duly issued congressional subpoena and breaking federal law. As a result, the committee passed a report outlining Secretary Blinken’s role in the failed withdrawal and recommending the U.S. House of Representatives find him in contempt of Congress for his violation of the subpoena.

Chairman McCaul remains committed to turning over every stone to get to the bottom of the Biden-Harris administration’s botched withdrawal, which damaged America’s reputation globally, emboldened our adversaries, and — horrifically — led to the death of 13 American servicemembers.

###