{"id":2321918,"date":"2024-08-09T12:16:02","date_gmt":"2024-08-09T16:16:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blinken-pressed-on-money-sent-to-taliban-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-09T12:18:35","modified_gmt":"2024-08-09T16:18:35","slug":"blinken-pressed-on-money-sent-to-taliban-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blinken-pressed-on-money-sent-to-taliban-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Blinken pressed on money sent to Taliban- Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fblinken-pressed-on-money-sent-to-taliban-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2321918&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The \u200darticle \u2063discusses a new \u200blegislative initiative by Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) aimed at increasing \u200caccountability for U.S. financial aid \u2063sent to foreign \u200dadversaries, particularly in\u2064 light\u200b of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-view-claims-biden-is-allowed-to-get-mad-when-discussing-report-of-presidents-outbursts\/\" title=\"The View asserts that Biden has the right to express anger regarding reports of his outbursts.\">recent report revealing<\/a> that $239 million had been\u2063 inadvertently sent \u200dto the Taliban due to \u200dinadequate vetting \u2063by the State Department. The proposed amendment to Ernst&#8217;s Tracking\u200d Receipts to Adversarial\u200c Countries for Knowledge of Spending Act would mandate the tracking and\u200c public \u2062disclosure of all U.S. funds allocated to foreign adversaries, expanding the \u200cscope beyond just China\u2063 and Russia. This legislation\u200c is a\u200d response to\u200b the Taliban&#8217;s\u2064 establishment \u2064of fraudulent nonprofit organizations that misappropriated U.S. aid. Ernst criticized the \u2064Biden administration&#8217;s approach to financial oversight\u200d and emphasized the \u200bimportance\u2062 of\u2063 ensuring\u200c that taxpayer funds are not \u200dmisdirected to \u2064<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-border-threat-so-taboo-that-few-dare-speak-of-it\/\" title=\"A Border Threat So Taboo That Few Dare Speak Of It\">terrorist groups<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Blinken pressed to disclose money to foreign adversaries after $239 million sent to Taliban<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1726553\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/state-department\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>State Department<\/a> may be required to track and disclose publicly all money given to foreign adversaries under a new bill being introduced by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joni-ernst\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Sen. Joni Ernst<\/a> (R-IA) seeking to prevent U.S. tax dollars from going toward terrorist activity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ernst filed an amendment to her Tracking Receipts to Adversarial Countries for Knowledge of Spending Act, which she <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/118th-congress\/senate-bill\/1775\/all-info\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>introduced earlier this year,<\/a> that would &ldquo;require every penny&rdquo; the United States gives to foreign adversaries to be tracked and disclosed. That&rsquo;s a change from the bill&rsquo;s original language, which only applied to China and Russia.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The amendment comes in response to a report that the U.S. has inadvertently sent $239 million to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/taliban\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Taliban<\/a> over the last three years due to a failure by the State Department to vet award recipients, <a href=\"https:\/\/theleadingreport.com\/u-s-government-has-sent-239-million-to-taliban-since-2021-due-to-state-depts-vetting-failures-report-reveals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>according to<\/a> the <em>Leading Report. <\/em>The money was sent after the Taliban reportedly established fake nonprofit groups to siphon millions of dollars of U.S. aid that was meant to be sent to Afghanistan, according to an investigation by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Because of that, the Taliban have received hundreds of millions of dollars due to incomplete vetting by the State Department, according to the investigation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We knew Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had a spend first, ask questions later approach, but to see $293 million sent to the Taliban is completely inexcusable,&rdquo; Ernst told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;This administration needs to get back our money, as I fight to ensure they cannot lose track of taxpayers&rsquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hate-being-spewed-in-the-name-of-patriotism-wapo-opinion-attacks-anthem-before-games-2\/\" title=\"\u2018Hate Being Spewed In The Name Of Patriotism\u2019: WaPo Opinion Attacks Anthem Before Games\">hard-earned money<\/a> ever again.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If the IRS can track a $600 Venmo for someone in Iowa, then they can certainly make sure our country is not cutting checks to the Taliban and other terrorist organizations,&rdquo; Ernst added, referring to a future rule by the IRS that would require some online app payments to be reported to the department.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>However, that rule only applies to payments that are considered income, such as money for services or products. If a payment over $600 is not considered income, such as reimbursements or gifts, users can request a correction.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>It&rsquo;s not clear when Ernst&rsquo;s amendment or complete bill may be brought up for consideration because the Senate is adjourned for its annual August recess and is not slated to return until Sept. 9.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ernst also wrote a letter to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the State Department to &ldquo;take immediate action to rectify these issues.&rdquo; It&rsquo;s not clear what that action may entail. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The State Department refuted claims that the U.S. has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-reject-measure-to-provide-funds-for-israels-iron-dome-block-attempts-to-sanction-hamas-reports\/\" title=\"Democrats Reject Measure To Provide Funds For Israel\u2019s Iron Dome, Block Attempts To Sanction Hamas: Reports\">provided financial assistance<\/a> to the Taliban, calling allegations that those funds came from department funding inaccurate. Additionally, a spokesperson for the department told the <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>that &ldquo;the majority&rdquo; of the State Department&rsquo;s Afghanistan-related awards &ldquo;fully comply&rdquo; with vetting requirements. <\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>also contacted the White House for comment. <\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1726553\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1726553\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) is introducing a new bill that would mandate the State Department to track and publicly disclose all funds allocated to foreign adversaries, aiming to stop U.S. tax dollars from supporting terrorist activities. This amendment to her previously introduced Tracking Receipts to Adversarial Countries for Knowledge of Spending Act expands the original focus, which was limited to China and Russia, by requiring comprehensive tracking of all financial aid given. The push for this amendment follows reports indicating that the U.S. has unintentionally sent $239 million to the Taliban over three years due to inadequate vetting processes by the State Department. Investigations revealed that the Taliban created fake nonprofit organizations to divert U.S. aid intended for Afghanistan, resulting in significant financial gains for them through insufficient oversight.<\/p>\n<p>Ernst criticized President Biden and Vice President Harris&#8217;s approach, stating it is unacceptable for such a large sum of money to have been sent without proper accountability. She emphasized that if the IRS can monitor small transactions like a $600 Venmo payment in Iowa, then similar scrutiny should be applied regarding payments made to terrorist groups like the Taliban.<\/p>\n<p>The timeline for when Ernst&#8217;s amendment or full bill will be considered remains uncertain as Congress is currently on recess until September 9th. Additionally, she has reached out directly to President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging immediate corrective measures regarding these issues; however, specific actions have not been detailed yet.<\/p>\n<p>In response, the State Department denied claims about providing financial support directly to the Taliban and asserted that most Afghanistan-related funding complies with established vetting protocols. The Washington Examiner also sought comments from the White House on this matter<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2640,"featured_media":2321919,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/AP24163317708562.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[4636,6513,3764,37683,32076],"class_list":["post-2321918","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-blinken","tag-funding","tag-taliban","tag-u-s-foreign-policy","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/AP24163317708562.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2321918","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2640"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2321918"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2321918\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2321919"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2321918"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2321918"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2321918"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}