{"id":2345225,"date":"2024-09-24T10:55:02","date_gmt":"2024-09-24T14:55:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blinken-sends-defensive-letter-to-house-committee-subpoenaing-him-and-threatening-contempt-report-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-24T10:57:18","modified_gmt":"2024-09-24T14:57:18","slug":"blinken-sends-defensive-letter-to-house-committee-subpoenaing-him-and-threatening-contempt-report-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blinken-sends-defensive-letter-to-house-committee-subpoenaing-him-and-threatening-contempt-report-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Blinken sends defensive letter to House committee subpoenaing him and threatening contempt: Report &#8211; 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\">32<\/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-sends-defensive-letter-to-house-committee-subpoenaing-him-and-threatening-contempt-report-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=2345225&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>Of an ongoing investigation. In a recent letter, Secretary of \u200cState Antony Blinken urged House Republican leaders to reconsider their subpoena and the threat \u2063of\u200c contempt proceedings against him. Expressing disappointment in the stance taken by \u200cHouse Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, Blinken emphasized that he is willing to testify and had previously proposed alternative dates, as he is currently engaged\u2062 in important \u200ddiplomatic efforts, including conflicts in \u200dUkraine, Gaza, and Sudan.\u2063 Blinken detailed his busy schedule during the days \u200dMcCaul requested his \u200cpresence,\u200b highlighting significant commitments at the United Nations General Assembly. He called \u2063for \u200ca collaborative approach, pointing out\u2063 that his responsibilities required his attention on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/january-6-committee-sends-letter-to-ginni-thomas-requesting-meeting-in-early-july\/\" title=\"January 6 Committee Sends Letter To Ginni Thomas Requesting Meeting In Early July\">proposed dates<\/a>\u200c for testimony.  <\/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 sends defensive letter to House committee subpoenaing him and threatening contempt: Report<\/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_1757102\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Secretary of State <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/antony-blinken\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Antony Blinken<\/a> sent a <a href=\"https:\/\/punchbowl.news\/09-22-24-s-letter-to-mccaul\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>letter<\/a> to congressional Republicans urging them to walk back their subpoena and reconsider the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3152845\/blinken-fails-comply-subpoena-faces-contempt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>contempt proceedings<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>According to the letter, obtained by <em>Punchbowl News,<\/em> Blinken said he was &ldquo;profoundly disappointed&rdquo; with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michael-mccaul\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Michael McCaul <\/a>(R-TX) due to his nonaccommodating stance toward his travel schedule in his capacity as secretary of state. Blinken outlined his communications with the committee and McCaul, saying he spoke with McCaul in August and earlier this month in September &ldquo;personally sought to reach an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ken-paxton-sues-biden-administration-for-including-misgendering-someone-as-workplace-harassment-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Ken Paxton sues Biden administration for including misgendering someone as workplace harassment - Washington Examiner\">accommodation&#038;rdquo<\/a>; with the panel.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;As I have made clear, I am willing to testify and have offered several reasonable alternatives to the dates unilaterally demanded by the Committee during which I am carrying out the President&rsquo;s important foreign policy objectives,&rdquo; Blinken wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Blinken said he has been busy spearheading &ldquo;diplomatic engagements on matters of great concern to the American people including the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>He said that he called McCaul on Sept. 3, where he told him he would be traveling on both of the dates McCaul proposed. Blinken is also involved with events at the United Nations General Assembly this week, which he notes have been scheduled for months.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;On September 24 alone &mdash; the day you have asked me to appear &mdash; I will: represent the United States at the UN Security Council debate on the war in Ukraine, during which I will debate the Russian and Chinese <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/u-s-and-european-government-leaders-slam-icc-investigation-into-israel\/\" title=\"U.S. and European Government Leaders Slam ICC Investigation into Israel\">foreign ministers<\/a>; host alongside the President a leader-level meeting of the United States-led Global Coalition on Synthetic Drugs to fight the production and trafficking of fentanyl; accompany President Biden for his address to the General Assembly and his bilateral meeting with UN Secretary General Guterres; meet with foreign ministers in the Partnership for Global Infrastructure to secure commitments for the Lobito Corridor in Africa; and conduct several other bilateral and multilateral engagements,&rdquo; Blinken said, listing out his prior responsibilities which he says he made McCaul aware of despite McCaul requesting his presence on these days.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, McCaul subpoenaed Blinken and threatened to hold him in contempt as part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-rejects-bannon-bid-to-avoid-prison-sentence-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Supreme Court rejects Bannon bid to avoid prison sentence - Washington Examiner\">committee&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s investigation into the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. McCaul and the House Foreign Affairs Committee have been investigating President Joe Biden administration&rsquo;s handling of the evacuation of U.S. troops and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3146525\/house-foreign-affairs-afghanistan-withdrawal-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>released a report<\/a> earlier this month on their findings.<\/p>\n<p>Blinken noted that his department &ldquo;expended thousands of hours&rdquo; to get the House Foreign Affairs Committee the requested materials for its report, including documents, briefings, and interviews. Blinken also said that he appeared before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in May.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>While Blinken proposed some of his senior staff replace him in the hearings, he said he was willing to make himself available after returning from travel.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I am committed to engaging with you in accordance with the constitutionally-mandated accommodation process and hope we can reach an agreement on one of the reasonable alternatives I have offered for your consideration,&rdquo; Blinken wrote.<\/p>\n<\/div>\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_1757102\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1757102\"}});<\/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>Secretary of State Antony Blinken has sent a letter to congressional Republicans asking them to retract their subpoena and reconsider the potential contempt proceedings against him. In the letter, which was acquired by Punchbowl News, Blinken expressed his &#8220;profound disappointment&#8221; with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) for not accommodating his travel schedule as Secretary of State. He detailed his communications with McCaul, noting that he had spoken with him in August and again earlier this month in an effort to find a compromise. Blinken emphasized that he is willing to testify and has proposed several reasonable alternatives to the dates demanded by the committee while fulfilling important foreign policy duties on behalf of the President.<\/p>\n<p>Blinken highlighted his involvement in significant diplomatic efforts concerning pressing issues such as conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan. He mentioned a call he made to McCaul on September 3rd where he informed him about his travel plans coinciding with both proposed dates for testimony. This week, Blinken is also engaged in events at the United Nations General Assembly that have been planned for months. On September 24th\u2014the date requested by McCaul\u2014he will represent the U.S. at a UN Security Council debate regarding Ukraine&#8217;s war, host a meeting on synthetic drugs alongside President Biden, accompany Biden during his address at the General Assembly and bilateral talks with UN Secretary-General Guterres, meet foreign ministers about infrastructure commitments in Africa, among other responsibilities.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, McCaul issued a subpoena for Blinken as part of an investigation into the U.S.&#8217;s withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and threatened contempt charges over it. The committee has been examining how President Biden&#8217;s administration managed troop evacuations and recently released findings related to their investigation. In response to these inquiries, Blinken noted that his department dedicated extensive resources\u2014thousands of hours\u2014to provide requested materials including documents and interviews for the committee\u2019s report; he also testified before them back in May.<\/p>\n<p>While suggesting some senior staff members could attend hearings on his behalf if necessary, Blinken reiterated his commitment to engage constructively within constitutional guidelines after returning from travel commitments: \u201cI hope we can reach an agreement on one of my reasonable alternatives,\u201d he stated<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2910,"featured_media":2345226,"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\/09\/Blinken-Britain-IDF.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[4636,7074,41594,4509,7836],"class_list":["post-2345225","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-blinken","tag-contempt","tag-house-committee","tag-letter","tag-subpoena"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Blinken-Britain-IDF.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2345225","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\/2910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2345225"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2345225\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2345226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2345225"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2345225"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2345225"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}