Jen Psaki Facing Subpoena if She Doesn't Comply: Report
A senior House Republican has issued a stern warning to former White House press secretary Jen Psaki, indicating that a subpoena may be in store if she does not agree to testify voluntarily before Congress regarding President Joe Biden’s troubled withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
The abrupt and disorderly exit from Afghanistan resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and the loss of billions of dollars in weapons to terrorist groups.
Republican Representative Michael McCaul of Texas, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is leading an inquiry into the conclusion of the two-decade-long war in Afghanistan.
Reported by Axios, McCaul has been eager to hear Psaki's perspective on the significant military and leadership breakdown but has faced resistance from her since last September.
When Psaki made a false claim in her recent book that President Biden never glanced at his watch during the dignified transfer of remains of the slain U.S. service members, McCaul intensified efforts to speak with her.
In a letter addressed to Psaki and her attorney Emily Loeb, McCaul stressed the importance of accountability and transparency.
"As a private citizen capable of publishing a memoir on her time as White House Press Secretary, I urge Ms. Psaki not to rely on weak legal arguments to avoid her obligation to testify before Congress," McCaul wrote in his letter.
"The Committee will not tolerate Ms. Psaki's ongoing obstruction of its crucial investigation," he added.
McCaul expressed his concern that Psaki might be exploiting the deaths of American soldiers by releasing her book "Say More: Lessons from Work, the White House, and the World."
Psaki had already amended the e-book to retract the inaccurate statement that Biden did not check his watch multiple times in 2021 while meeting with the families of deceased American service members at the Kabul airport during the chaotic withdrawal.
"It is concerning that Ms. Psaki is trying to profit from the Afghanistan tragedy by publishing accounts and making them public, yet she refuses to cooperate with Congress," McCaul noted, as reported by Axios.
The article from Axios indicated that McCaul's letter to Psaki included a threat of a subpoena.
Earlier this year, McCaul commented on the investigation into the Biden administration's handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal, highlighting that no action was taken by the Pentagon or White House despite warnings from intelligence experts about deteriorating conditions before the scheduled military exit.
"Our investigation revealed that the White House disregarded warnings about the situation on the ground," McCaul stated.
He also spoke about the harrowing scenes witnessed during the withdrawal, such as desperate Afghans attempting to flee and tragic incidents at the Kabul airport.
Addressing the families of the fallen service members, McCaul pledged to uncover the truth and ensure accountability, emphasizing that the sacrifices of the troops would be remembered.
McCaul aims to release a report on the Afghanistan exit by the end of the summer, according to Axios.