McCaul agrees to view Afghan dissent cable from State Department and halts subpoena enforcement.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman to View Dissent Cable on Afghanistan Withdrawal

After months of tension, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul has accepted the State Department’s offer to view a dissent cable from the time of the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. This move comes after the department sent a letter to the committee on May 17, offering McCaul and the committee’s ranking member, Rep. Gregory Meeks, the chance to view the cable at the State Department with personal information redacted.

Committee Chairman Eager to Review Documents

In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, McCaul expressed his eagerness to view the documents as soon as possible. He also stated that he would pause efforts to enforce the committee’s subpoena while he reviewed the documents, but emphasized that the subpoena remained in full force and effect.

Call for Transparency

McCaul also called for other members of the committee to be able to access the cable, stating that he was leading the oversight efforts but not to the exclusion of other members. He insisted that the department allow other members to review the dissent cable and response.

Refusal to Release Cable

Despite the subpoena, Blinken has repeatedly refused to give the cable to the committee. However, with McCaul’s acceptance of the State Department’s offer, there may be hope for increased transparency and accountability regarding the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.