Rep. Meeks Condemns GOP's Contempt Vote Against Blinken as "Desperate" Politics

Photo byOffices of Representative Gregory Meeks

House Foreign Affairs Committee's Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks criticizes Republicans' move to hold Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress, calling it "shameless" and "nakedly partisan."

Meeks Slams Republican Contempt Vote

Washington, DC — Representative Gregory W. Meeks, the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has issued a strong statement condemning the Committee's Republican majority for scheduling a markup to hold Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress. Meeks labeled the action as "desperate" and accused Republicans of engaging in "political theater."

Accusations of Partisan Timing

The contempt vote comes nearly a week after Republicans released a politically timed, partisan report, which Meeks asserts misrepresented the facts of the Committee’s oversight investigation into the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. In response, Committee Democrats released their own report detailing their findings.

"Yet, after more than three years since the Afghanistan withdrawal but conveniently on the eve of a Presidential election, Republicans suddenly urgently need his testimony?" Meeks questioned, highlighting what he perceives as the strategic timing of the GOP's actions.

Blinken's Previous Cooperation

Meeks emphasized that Secretary Blinken has been forthcoming with Congress. "Secretary Blinken was the first cabinet official to appear before Congress in the days after the Afghanistan withdrawal," he noted. "He has appeared an additional three times before the Committee since to take questions on Afghanistan and has provided regular access to Department officials and thousands of pages of sensitive documents."

Global Crises Demand Attention

The Ranking Member criticized the GOP for diverting attention from pressing international issues. "It is shameless that, while Secretary Blinken deals with pressing issues around the world—like securing a ceasefire deal in Gaza or the war in Ukraine—the House GOP continues its political theater," Meeks stated.

Republicans Assert Necessity

Republican members of the Committee argue that holding Blinken in contempt is necessary due to what they describe as insufficient compliance with information requests related to the Afghanistan withdrawal. They maintain that accountability and thorough oversight are crucial for understanding the events surrounding the withdrawal.

Meeks Calls for Focus on Policy

Concluding his statement, Meeks urged a return to bipartisan cooperation on foreign policy matters. "The scheduled Committee vote to hold Secretary Blinken in contempt, based on bogus allegations of wrongdoing that their own investigation has not proven, is just the latest act in the political theater that Republicans now wish to extend further into the election season. It is both desperate and nakedly partisan," he declared.

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