The leading Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee is demanding that Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s national security adviser, testify publicly about the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
This call for testimony comes as the three-year anniversary of the chaotic exit approaches and as former President Trump criticizes the Biden administration’s handling of the situation, linking it to Vice President Harris, the newly announced Democratic presidential nominee.
Michael McCaul, the committee chair, has formally requested Sullivan to appear before Congress in September to answer questions about his role in the withdrawal process. McCaul’s letter underscores that evidence has pointed to the National Security Council (NSC) as central to the decision-making regarding Afghanistan.
McCaul’s investigation into the chaotic Afghanistan exit to culminate in a report next month
McCaul set a deadline for August 30, 2024, for Sullivan’s appearance and indicated he would use subpoena power if necessary. This request is part of a broader investigation into the disordered end of the U.S.’s longest war, which saw the Taliban swiftly overtake Kabul in August 2021 with minimal resistance.
White House spokesperson Sharon Yang stated that the administration will respond to McCaul’s request and defended Biden’s decision to end the U.S. military involvement, arguing it was essential to avoid further entanglement in a prolonged conflict.
Despite the Biden administration’s confidence in the Afghan government’s ability to hold Kabul, the city fell quickly, leading to a frenzied evacuation and tragic scenes at the airport, including an ISIS-K bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members and over 170 Afghans.
Trump has criticized Biden’s handling of the evacuation and called for resignations from senior officials involved. McCaul’s investigation is expected to culminate in a report next month, revealing findings from interviews with key officials. McCaul believes Sullivan played a critical role in the policy failures and insists he should testify without invoking executive privilege.
