McCaul seeks to grill more Biden administration officials on Afghanistan

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul is seeking interviews with nine Biden administration officials about its disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

The Texas Republican demanded the nine key current and former officials make contact with his committee by Sept. 7 as it continues to investigate “the Biden administration’s chaotic and deadly withdrawal.”

“Through our ongoing investigation, we have determined these individuals have important information that is critical to uncovering how and why the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan resulted in a disgraceful surrender to the Taliban, the death of 13 U.S. servicemembers and injuring 45 more — all which could have been prevented,” McCaul said in a statement.

“This was an unmitigated disaster of epic proportions and I will not rest until the American people receive the transparency and answers they deserve,” he added.

“The committee will continue to interview additional current and former administration officials involved in the planning and execution of the withdrawal.”

The nine individuals include Ross Wilson, former U.S. acting ambassador to Afghanistan; Brian McKeon, former deputy secretary of State for Management and Resources; Zalmay Khalilzad, former special representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation; Carol Perez, former acting Under Secretary of State for Management; Ambassador John Bass; Derek Chollet, Counselor to the Secretary; Suzy George, chief of staff to the Secretary; Salman Ahmed, Director, Policy Planning Staff; and Dean Thompson, U.S. Ambassador to Nepal.

McCaul issued the demand on Wednesday, which marked the two-year anniversary of the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

On Tuesday, his panel heard heart-wrenching stories from families of the 13 American troops who were killed in the ISIS-K suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport days before the withdrawal wrapped up.

Since taking command of the committee, McCaul has demanded numerous documents and transcribed interviews from the Biden administration about Afghanistan.

The House of Representatives is slated to reconvene on Sept. 12, days after the deadline McCaul gave for the nine individuals to make contact with his panel.