The House Foreign Affairs Committee is advancing a resolution to hold Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress.

The lawmakers' move follows Blinken’s failure to comply with a subpoena requesting his testimony regarding the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the decision sets the stage for a critical session in which legislators will determine whether to escalate the matter involving the Biden official further, as the Washington Examiner reports.

The committee is pressing forward with its probe of the chaotic military exit from Afghanistan that left 13 U.S. service members dead and sparked intense scrutiny over the Biden administration’s role.

The resolution comes after several attempts by the committee to compel Blinken’s testimony. Committee Chairman Mike McCaul (R-TX) announced that the panel would hold a full markup on the contempt resolution next week, with a decision expected soon on whether to bring the charges to the full House for a vote.

Lawmakers are particularly focused on the events leading to a suicide bombing outside Kabul’s airport, which killed U.S. personnel and highlighted the turbulence of the withdrawal.

September Hearing Set to Review Charges

The House Foreign Affairs Committee is set to meet on Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. to consider advancing the contempt resolution. This hearing marks a significant escalation in the ongoing investigation into the Biden administration’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal. The panel has been probing the incident for years, concluding its report just last week. The report criticized the administration's handling of the withdrawal, placing much of the blame on the Biden administration while downplaying the role of former President Donald Trump.

Despite the completion of the report, McCaul has insisted that Blinken be held accountable for his role, specifically regarding the final decision-making during the evacuation. "This was a catastrophic failure of epic proportions," McCaul said. "This is a disgrace. I will hold him in contempt if that’s what it takes to bring him before the American people."

State Department Pushes Back On Subpoena

The State Department has consistently pushed back against the committee’s efforts to subpoena Blinken. Department officials have pointed out that the Secretary of State has already testified before Congress numerous times on this issue. According to a department spokesperson, Blinken has appeared before both the House and Senate more than 14 times to discuss the administration's role in the Afghanistan withdrawal.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller expressed frustration over the latest developments. "The Secretary has testified before the Congress on Afghanistan more than 14 times -- more than any other Cabinet-level official," he said. "It is disappointing that instead of continuing to engage with the Department in good faith, the Committee instead has issued yet another unnecessary subpoena."

Afghanistan Withdrawal Sparks Broader Debate

The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, which occurred in August 2021, has been a source of ongoing controversy. The chaotic evacuation saw the Taliban swiftly retake control of the country, culminating in a deadly suicide bombing outside Kabul International Airport. The attack, which killed 13 U.S. service members, has become a focal point of the investigation into the withdrawal.

Critics have largely blamed the Biden administration for failing to anticipate the rapid collapse of the Afghan government and the ensuing chaos. The committee’s report emphasized this perspective, though it also noted that the Trump administration’s decisions set the stage for the eventual withdrawal. McCaul and other committee members are determined to ensure that Blinken testifies about the department's decision-making process during this critical period.

Contempt Resolution Faces Unclear Path Forward

Although the committee is moving forward with the contempt resolution, it is still unclear whether the charges will advance to the full House for a vote. If the committee approves the resolution, the next step would be to bring the matter to the floor for a broader discussion. However, with lawmakers focused on finalizing a stopgap spending bill to prevent a government shutdown on Oct. 1, the timing of such a vote remains uncertain.

Blinken’s potential contempt charge is part of a broader effort by Republicans to scrutinize the Biden administration’s foreign policy decisions. However, the success of this effort remains to be seen, as the outcome will largely depend on how the committee’s findings are received by the broader House.

Lawmakers Prepare for September Hearing

The Sept. 19 hearing will be a pivotal moment for the House Foreign Affairs Committee as it decides whether to escalate the contempt charges against Blinken. If the committee votes to move forward, the full House could see a vote on the matter in the coming weeks. This vote would mark the latest development in the ongoing fallout over the Afghanistan withdrawal.

Chairman McCaul has indicated his willingness to pursue this matter aggressively, stating that holding Blinken accountable is a top priority. “You served as the final decision maker for the department on the withdrawal and evacuation,” McCaul wrote in his subpoena to Blinken, emphasizing the importance of his testimony.

Future Uncertain For Blinken’s Contempt Charges

Despite the committee’s determination, Blinken's testimony has been a contentious issue. The State Department’s continued resistance suggests that the path forward may be difficult. The department has made it clear that they believe the committee's latest subpoena is unnecessary, given Blinken’s past appearances.

At the same time, the committee’s focus on the events of the Kabul bombing underscores the high stakes of this investigation. Lawmakers remain divided on how to address the administration’s role in the withdrawal, and Blinken’s potential contempt charge adds another layer of complexity to the debate.

Conclusion: Tensions Rise Over Afghanistan Withdrawal

As the House Foreign Affairs Committee moves forward with a contempt resolution against Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the political tensions surrounding the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan continue to intensify.  With a hearing scheduled for Sept. 19, the committee will soon decide whether to escalate the matter to the full House.

The resolution highlights ongoing concerns over the chaotic exit from Afghanistan, the deaths of U.S. service members, and the Biden administration’s handling of the situation.  The path ahead remains uncertain, but the decision to potentially hold Blinken in contempt reflects the continued fallout from the withdrawal.