Pelosi's office slams Kevin McCarthy for ‘empty stunt’ following Kabul airport attack
Following the terrorist attack at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan on Thursday, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy issued a statement calling for President Joe Biden to "take decisive action to protect our troops…. without regard for an arbitrary deadline." And Drew Hammill, House Speaker Pelosi's deputy chief of staff, tweeted that "empty stunts" and "distraction" from McCarthy aren't going to make a tense situation any better.
McCarthy, in his statement, said, "Our enemies have taken advantage of the chaotic nature of the withdrawal. It is time for Congress to act quickly to save lives. Speaker Pelosi must bring Congress back into session before August 31."
McCarthy went on to urge Pelosi to pass a bill by Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin "prohibiting the withdrawal of our troops until every American is out of Afghanistan."
Horrific. Our enemies have taken advantage of the chaotic nature of Biden's withdrawal.\n\nSpeaker Pelosi must bring Congress back before Aug 31 so we can be briefed thoroughly by the Administration and prohibit the withdrawal of our troops until every American is safely out.— Kevin McCarthy (@Kevin McCarthy) 1629999446
INBOX: McCarthy calls for Pelosi to bring Congress back to session before Aug. 31 to pass a bill prohibiting the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan "until every American is out."\n\nSays Biden should take "decisive action... without regard for an arbitrary deadline."— Andrew Solender (@Andrew Solender) 1629999585
"Our enemies have taken advantage of the chaotic nature of the withdrawal," McCarthy says.\n\nFull statement pic.twitter.com/uBEqy3dX6p— Andrew Solender (@Andrew Solender) 1629999684
Hammill, in response to McCarthy's statement, pointed out that it was former President Donald Trump who "negotiated with the Taliban" in 2020:
What\u2019s not going to help evacuate American citizens is more empty stunts & distraction from the Minority Leader who sat idly by as Pres. Trump proudly negotiated with the Taliban. The Biden Administration has repeatedly briefed the Congress & providing frequent updates each day.— Drew Hammill (@Drew Hammill) 1630001566
