House panel weighs holding Blinken in contempt over Afghanistan withdrawal testimony

Washington — The Republican-led House Foreign Affairs Committee is expected to recommend Tuesday 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 committee's chairman, Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, subpoenaed Blinken earlier this month for his testimony, threatening to hold him in contempt if he did not appear before the panel on Sept. 19. In the letter subpoenaing Blinken, McCaul said Blinken's appearance was important as the committee considers "potential legislation aimed at helping prevent the catastrophic mistakes of the withdrawal." 

The State Department said it had proposed other dates for Blinken's testimony, citing his travel overseas as the U.S. tries to secure a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas. It also offered to have Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell appear before the committee if the panel was set on last week's date.