This week, Americans across our nation paused and remembered the 13 brave servicemembers who lost their lives – as well as those who were wounded – during the chaotic withdrawal of Afghanistan that occurred just two years ago. The memories of these fallen patriots, and their dedication to serving the country they were proud to call home, will live on in our hearts forever. It is my firm belief that every American deserves to know what decisions – or lack thereof – led to this botched withdrawal. First, it’s important to provide background details that paint a bigger picture.

As a result of this withdrawal, more than 800 Americans were stranded in Afghanistan behind enemy lines for months. At the outset, the Biden administration did not even have an accurate accounting of who was stranded and where. Over $7 billion in U.S. military equipment was surrendered to the Taliban. This equipment included weapons, military aircraft, as well as ground vehicles. It remains abundantly clear that there was no plan in place to facilitate such a withdrawal, and the evidence is overwhelming.

House Republicans are not hesitating to seek answers. As part of our commitment to A Government That Is Accountable, we have taken steps to bring the facts to light. Our work has included:

• Conducting oversight hearings related to the withdrawal.
• Sending at least 15 letters to the Biden administration requesting information.
• Issuing subpoenas for documents to uncover the glaring lack of planning on President Biden’s part in the weeks and months leading up to the withdrawal.

What’s more, last year, House Foreign Affairs Committee Republicans released a 115 page report highlighting President Biden’s strategic failures. I highly encourage you to read this document and see the step-by-step analysis of President Biden’s decision to withdraw, key mistakes, mixed messaging, and the months of inaction. Continued and rigorous oversight is necessary in exposing the facts and holding this administration accountable for one of the darkest days in our nation’s history.

Oversight Update

Recently, House Oversight and Accountability Republicans released a third bank memo that provides in-depth details on additional payments funneled to the Biden family from various sources overseas. In total, the committee has identified a whopping $20 million in payments. No real services were provided in exchange for this money, other than access to then-Vice President Biden and the Biden family’s network. As our investigative efforts continue, I’ll provide you with the facts every step of the way.

To read the latest memo, click here.

New Scam Alert

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Eastern North Carolina has released new information relating to a wave a charity scams. In the wake of the devastating wildfires in Hawaii, bad actors are setting up fake donation pages and sites masquerading as relief organizations and charities. By no means is this a new tactic, but it is one that has been used to defraud countless people over the years. According to the BBB, the best way to avoid these scams is to do extensive research on registered and legitimate disaster relief organizations before donating any amount of money.

For more information, click here.

Quote of The Week

“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”

-General Douglas MacArthur

Have a blessed weekend,