{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://comer.house.gov/2021/9/comer-republicans-will-gain-answers-on-botched-afghanistan-withdrawal-with-or-without-white-house", "Comer: Republicans Will Gain Answers on Botched Afghanistan Withdrawal With or Without White House", "2021-09-03", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "Thanks Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction for heeding Republican calls for briefing, voices disappointment for lack of answers from Biden Administration\n\nWASHINGTON\u2014House Oversight and Reform Committee Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) released the following statement after the committee received a briefing from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). Republicans pressed SIGAR for a briefing on August 19, 2021. The briefing is a result of their request.\n\n\u201cAmerica needs answers on Afghanistan, and, since the White House either cherry-picks what questions to answer or completely fails to respond to questions, Republicans have had to find answers elsewhere. Committee Republicans invited the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction to brief Congress today, and I appreciate his willingness to come forward and his commitment to testify before the Full Committee in the coming weeks.\n\n\u201cBetween the botched withdrawal, the Biden Administration choosing to leave Americans behind, the likelihood American military equipment and taxpayer dollars now reside in Taliban or terrorist hands, Afghan President Ghani fleeing the country with more than $169 million, and the deaths of 13 U.S. servicemen and women, the situation in Afghanistan is dismal and heart wrenching.\n\n\u201cThe Special Inspector General has revealed even more startling consequences of President Biden\u2019s disastrous withdrawal. The SIGAR confirmed that 50% of fuel provided by the U.S. has been stolen in Afghanistan by corrupt government officials responsible for its distribution. It\u2019s also been confirmed U.S. military equipment is likely being used by the Taliban on Afghan civilians and being traded with terrorist organizations. This is unacceptable. Republicans will continue to take all actions possible to investigate what went wrong and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.\u201d\n\nOversight Republicans have sent the following letters in hopes of gaining better insight into the disastrous, deadly withdrawal effort.\n\nAugust 18: Letter to Chairwoman Maloney and Subcommittee Chairman Lynch demanding a hearing to answer questions regarding the withdrawal\n\nAugust 19: Letter to Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction Sopko demanding a briefing to account for the location of U.S. funds in Afghanistan\n\nAugust 19: Letters to Secretaries Blinken and Austin requesting they appear before the Oversight Committee\n\nAugust 23: Letter to Secretary Austin demanding info on Taliban access to American military equipment\n\nAugust 24: Letters to Secretary Blinken and Attorney General Garland regarding reports of the Afghan president fleeing with $169 million in cash\n\nAugust 24: Letters to Secretaries Blinken and Mayorkas on ensuring proper vetting of Afghan refugees", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://comer.house.gov/2021/9/comer-republicans-will-gain-answers-on-botched-afghanistan-withdrawal-with-or-without-white-house"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9096409194171429, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}