{"id":2325317,"date":"2024-08-15T19:05:55","date_gmt":"2024-08-15T23:05:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mccaul-subpoenas-blinken-for-documents-on-grant-promoting-atheism-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-15T19:10:54","modified_gmt":"2024-08-15T23:10:54","slug":"mccaul-subpoenas-blinken-for-documents-on-grant-promoting-atheism-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mccaul-subpoenas-blinken-for-documents-on-grant-promoting-atheism-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"McCaul subpoenas Blinken for documents on grant promoting atheism &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/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%2Fmccaul-subpoenas-blinken-for-documents-on-grant-promoting-atheism-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=2325317&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>Chairman Michael McCaul of the House Foreign Affairs\u2063 Committee has subpoenaed\u200d Secretary of State Antony Blinken due to his failure to\u200c provide documents \u2062related to \u2064a $500,000 State Department grant \u200baimed at promoting atheism overseas. \u200dThis investigation has been ongoing since August \u200b2023 when the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawmakers-ask-for-details-from-american-scientists-who-studied-bat-coronaviruses-in-wuhan-before-the-pandemic\/\" title=\"Lawmakers Ask For Details From American Scientists Who Studied Bat Coronaviruses In Wuhan Before The Pandemic\">committee requested information<\/a> on the grant. McCaul has expressed frustration with\u200c the \u2063State Department&#8217;s lack of compliance\u2064 and called its promotion of\u200c atheism using taxpayer funds \u200binto question. He claims the department has engaged in \u201cobfuscation and denial\u201d \u2062regarding the information requested. McCaul&#8217;s subpoena \u200corders Blinken to submit the \u200crequired documents by September \u200d4. In a \u2062previous letter to State Department\u200c officials, House Republicans \u200bsought clarity on\u200d the grant, which seeks to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/famous-nyc-bar-bans-budweiser-products-during-pride-weekend-claiming-company-has-supported-anti-lgbtq-politicians\/\" title=\"Famous NYC Bar Bans Budweiser Products During Pride Weekend, Claiming Company Has Supported \u2018Anti-LGBTQ\u2019 Politicians\">support religious freedom<\/a> for atheists and individuals with non-religious affiliations.  <\/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\">McCaul subpoenas Blinken for documents on grant promoting atheism<\/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_1730868\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-foreign-affairs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>House Foreign Affairs Committee<\/a> Chairman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michael-mccaul\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Michael McCaul<\/a> (R-TX) subpoenaed Secretary of State <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/antony-blinken\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Antony Blinken<\/a> on Wednesday over failure to produce documents for the committee&rsquo;s investigation into a State Department grant that promotes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/atheism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>atheism<\/a> overseas.<\/p>\n<p>The committee has requested documents on the $500,000 grant since August 2023, and the subpoena requires Blinken to submit the requested information by 5 p.m. on Sept. 4.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Despite repeated opportunities for voluntary compliance, the State Department has failed to turn over critical information regarding its grant to Humanists International, instead engaging in a pattern of obfuscation and denial regarding its programming and the existence of key documents,&rdquo;&nbsp;McCaul said in a statement on Thursday. &ldquo;We must get to the bottom of why the department &mdash; tasked with advancing America&rsquo;s interests abroad &mdash; found the promotion of atheism to be an acceptable use of taxpayer funds. Unfortunately, its failure to comply with my requests has left me no choice but to issue a subpoena.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In August 2023, McCaul and other House Republicans wrote a letter to the State Department&rsquo;s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor acting Assistant Secretary Erin Barclay and Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Rashad Hussain. The lawmakers asked them to <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignaffairs.house.gov\/press-release\/mccaul-smith-mast-demand-answers-from-state-on-grants-promoting-atheism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cuomo-blames-toxic-political-environment-amid-scandal-deaths-in-nursing-homes-accurately-reported\/\" title=\"Cuomo Blames \u2018Toxic Political Environment\u2019 Amid Scandal: Deaths In Nursing Homes \u2018Accurately Reported\u2019\">provide information<\/a><\/a> about the grant titled &ldquo;Promoting and Defending Religious Freedom Inclusive of Atheist, Humanist, Non-Practicing and Non-Affiliated Individuals.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The State Department argued that the DRL and the Office of International Religious Freedom do not provide funds to organizations that intend to use them to promote specific religious ideologies. However, House Republicans argue that the title of the grant contradicts that claim and are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-republicans-from-both-chambers-demand-answers-over-improper-medicaid-payments\/\" title=\"EXCLUSIVE: Republicans From Both Chambers Demand Answers Over Improper Medicaid Payments\">seeking additional information<\/a> on the grant and the organizations it supports.<\/p>\n<p>McCaul also <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignaffairs.house.gov\/press-release\/mccaul-subpoenas-humanists-international-for-failure-to-provide-transparency-on-state-department-grant-promoting-atheism-abroad\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>issued a subpoena<\/a> last week to Humanists International, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/refugee-watchdog-calls-for-immediate-action-in-ethiopia\/\" title=\"Refugee Watchdog Calls for Immediate Action in Ethiopia\">human rights organization<\/a>, requesting documents as it seeks to determine whether the grant allows groups to be &ldquo;intentionally exporting atheism abroad and distorting religious freedom in a partisan manner.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>He said organizations with &ldquo;extreme, ideological agendas,&rdquo; such as HI, have &ldquo;refused to provide transparency&rdquo; despite receiving hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to the State Department 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_1730868\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1730868\"}});<\/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>House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) issued a subpoena to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday due to the lack of documents related to an investigation into a State Department grant that supports atheism internationally. The committee has been seeking information about the $500,000 grant since August 2023, and the subpoena mandates that Blinken provide the requested documents by 5 p.m. on September 4. McCaul stated, &#8220;Despite multiple chances for voluntary compliance, the State Department has not provided essential information regarding its grant to Humanists International and has instead engaged in a pattern of evasion and denial concerning its programs and key documents.&#8221; He emphasized the need to understand why the department deemed it appropriate to use taxpayer money for promoting atheism abroad. In August 2023, McCaul and other House Republicans sent a letter to Erin Barclay, acting Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, as well as Ambassador Rashad Hussain for International Religious Freedom. They requested details about a grant titled \u201cPromoting and Defending Religious Freedom Inclusive of Atheist, Humanist, Non-Practicing and Non-Affiliated Individuals.\u201d The State Department contended that their offices do not fund organizations aiming to promote specific religious beliefs; however, House Republicans argue that this claim is contradicted by the grant&#8217;s title. Additionally, McCaul issued another subpoena last week targeting Humanists International for documents as part of his inquiry into whether this grant enables groups to &#8220;deliberately export atheism abroad&#8221; while misrepresenting religious freedom in a biased way. He criticized organizations with &#8220;extreme ideological agendas,&#8221; like HI, for lacking transparency despite receiving substantial taxpayer funding. The Washington Examiner reached out for comments from the State Department<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2648,"featured_media":2325318,"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\/08\/michael-mccaul.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[36122,4636,5407,13724,7836],"class_list":["post-2325317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-atheism","tag-blinken","tag-documents","tag-mccaul","tag-subpoena"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/michael-mccaul.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2325317","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\/2648"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2325317"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2325317\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2325318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2325317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2325317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2325317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}