Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki is scheduled to testify before Congress next month regarding the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.
“The Committee is keen on understanding the diplomatic and information transmission failures that resulted in misrepresentations concerning coordination with allies, contingency planning, the predictability of Afghanistan’s collapse, and the safety of Americans and allies in Afghanistan,” Mr. McCaul stated in his letter to Ms. Psaki confirming the interview.
The committee has been seeking testimony from Ms. Psaki for several months as it seeks to gather information about President Joe Biden’s decision-making process regarding the reduction of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Ms. Psaki, who now works for MSNBC, mentioned that her appearance before the committee must be approved by the White House.
Mr. McCaul expressed his disagreement with this condition.
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“I understand that you have made your appearance dependent on White House approval,” Mr. McCaul wrote. “As my staff informed your counsel, it is the responsibility of a witness appearing before the Committee to make any third-party arrangements.”
After departing the Biden administration in 2022, Ms. Psaki was recruited by MSNBC to host her own show. She has been prominently featured in the network’s political coverage and has attracted significant attention.
Previously, she 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 nearly two weeks after Mr. McCaul threatened to issue a subpoena compelling her to testify before Congress.
The committee sent a letter on June 5, stating 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 public service but also her private ventures as reasons for her testimony: “Ms. Psaki is a private citizen who has shared her perspectives on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan for public consumption and personal gain,” Mr. McCaul said, referencing her recent book, “Say More,” which details her life and career, including her time working for President Biden.
Republicans have been vocal in criticizing President Biden for his handling of the withdrawal of U.S. soldiers from Afghanistan, a situation currently under investigation by the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
The Epoch Times has reached out to Ms. Psaki for a comment.
