House Republicans advance contempt charges against Secretary Blinken over Afghanistan testimony

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee have advanced contempt of Congress charges against Secretary of State Antony Blinken following a contentious back-and-forth with the Cabinet secretary over an appearance to testify on the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The 26-25 party-line vote Tuesday marked the latest in a series of growing escalations between the GOP and the State Department as the majority has sought for the last 18 months to hold the Biden administration accountable for what they have called a “stunning failure of leadership” after Taliban forces seized the Afghan capital in August 2021. Blinken says that he was “profoundly disappointed” by the decision to advance contempt proceedings and urged Republicans to find a resolution in “good faith.”