Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki will testify before Congress next month about the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.
“The Committee has a vested interest in understanding those diplomatic and information transmission failures, which led to misrepresentations regarding, amongst other things, coordination with allies, contingency planning, the foreseeability of Afghanistan’s collapse, and the safety of Americans and allies in Afghanistan,” Mr. McCaul said in his letter to Ms. Psaki confirming the interview.
The committee has pursued a testimony agreement from Ms. Psaki for months as it endeavors to gather information about President Joe Biden’s decision-making process over the drawdown of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Ms. Psaki, who now works for MSNBC, said her appearance in front of the committee must be approved by the White House.
Mr. McCaul noted his disagreement with the caveat.
“I understand you have conditioned your appearance on approval by the White House,” Mr. McCaul wrote. “As my staff informed your counsel, it is incumbent on a witness appearing before the Committee to make any third-party arrangements.”
After leaving the Biden administration in 2022, Ms. Psaki, was hired by MSNBC to host her own show. She has been featured prominently in the network’s political coverage and garnered significant attention.
She previously served as White House communications director under former President Barack Obama and as the spokesperson for the Department of State. From 2017 to 2020, she was a political contributor for CNN.
Ms. Psaki’s compliance with the chairman’s request was announced almost two weeks after Mr. McCaul threatened to issue a subpoena that would force her to testify before Congress.
The committee sent a letter on June 5, saying that if Ms. Psaki did not respond to previous requests to testify, it would be “an affront to this Committee and the U.S. House of Representatives.”
Mr. McCaul cited not only Ms. Psaki’s time in public service but also her private endeavors as a demonstration of the need for her testimony: “Ms. Psaki is a private citizen who has published her insight into the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan for public consumption and personal profit,” Mr. McCaul said, referencing her recent book, “Say More,” about her life and career, including her time working for President Biden.
Republicans have been vocal in criticizing President Biden for his management of the withdrawal of United States soldiers from Afghanistan, which is currently being investigated by the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
The Epoch Times has reached out to Ms. Psaki for comment.
