Representative Cory Mills, a far-right lawmaker from Florida, has introduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Mills accuses Austin of disregarding crucial intelligence and overseeing a chaotic retreat from Afghanistan in 2021, resulting in the deaths of 13 American service members.
Mills formally introduced the resolution to impeach Austin just one day before the two-year anniversary of the service members’ deaths.
“High-level officials in this administration blatantly disregarded intelligence that Americans and our allies would be left behind in Kabul, facing danger, unless the U.S. changed course in the withdrawal,” Mills said in a statement.
“As a result, nearly 200 people, including 13 American service members, were killed at Abbey Gate in Kabul, Afghanistan, two years ago,” he continued. “Because of this clear negligence, I am introducing articles of impeachment for Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.”
On August 26, 2021, two suicide bombers attacked Abbey Gate at the Kabul airport, resulting in the deaths of American service members and dozens of Afghans.
The resolution introduced by Mills alleges that Austin committed “high crimes and misdemeanors” by failing to adequately plan for the withdrawal despite having eight months to prepare. The Florida lawmaker also criticized Austin for his “strategic and moral blindness” in carrying out a rushed retreat that failed to protect American and Afghan lives.
Mills pointed to the disorderly U.S. withdrawal from Bagram Airfield in July 2021. The Americans left the Afghan forces in charge without informing the new commander.
When the Taliban took control of the base in August, they released thousands of prisoners, including one of the Abbey Gate bombers, Abdul Rehman Al-Loghri.
The level of support for the resolution in the House is still uncertain. Republicans have vocally expressed their desire to impeach officials in the Biden administration but have yet to follow through.
Efforts to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas have diminished, and a resolution from Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) to impeach President Biden did not gain traction.
The U.S. initiated its chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in the summer of 2021 and completed the retreat by the end of August. This allowed the Taliban to seize control of the capital, Kabul, and initially left behind thousands of Americans.
Republicans were infuriated by the withdrawal and have held hearings in the House this year to shed light on the chaos and the deaths of American troops.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Representative Michael McCaul (R-Texas) is also conducting an investigation into the withdrawal. However, he has faced numerous delays and clashes with Secretary of State Antony Blinken over obtaining the necessary documents and information.
Mills stated on Friday that it was “not enough for Congress to hold committee hearings” and called for more substantial action.
“We must take real action to address the complete failure of this administration,” said the conservative lawmaker. “The fact that two entire years have passed without any member of this administration being held accountable is unimaginable.”
“That changes today,” he added.
© 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
