Psaki Did Not Question Biden on Afghanistan

In a recent closed-door interview with the House Foreign Affairs Committee, former White House press secretary Jen Psaki disclosed that she did not challenge or verify the accuracy of information provided by the Biden-Harris administration during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. Psaki's testimony, which spans over 230 pages and was obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, reveals a lack of consultation with key agencies like the State Department and Pentagon, which were responsible for the withdrawal operations. Despite acknowledging that nearly 400 Americans remained stranded in Afghanistan by October 2021, Psaki maintained that the administration's communication process was "sound." She admitted to lacking a "mechanism" to question the information from policymakers, suggesting a systemic issue within the administration's communication strategy. Her statements have fueled suspicions that the White House deliberately downplayed the severity of the situation as the Taliban regained control. Psaki's testimony, which came only after the committee threatened to subpoena her, indicates that she did not seek out or receive critical information from relevant agencies. A GOP source from the committee noted that when confronted with assessments contradicting public statements, Psaki did not question their validity. Rep. Michael McCaul, the committee chair, pointed to national security adviser Jake Sullivan as a key figure behind the misleading statements made by Psaki regarding the withdrawal. Throughout her testimony, Psaki emphasized that her role was to communicate the official stance of the U.S. government, rather than engage with dissenting opinions within the administration.