A senior investigator has resigned from the House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressing deep dissatisfaction with how the committee handled its investigation into the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 according to The Washington Examiner.
Jerry Dunleavy, a former reporter who joined the committee to support its investigative efforts, has publicly criticized the committee’s leadership, particularly Chairman Michael McCaul, for what he describes as a lack of courage and commitment in holding the Biden administration accountable for the chaotic and deadly pullout.
In his resignation, Dunleavy pointed to missed opportunities and unfulfilled promises made to the public and Gold Star families regarding the investigation into the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal.
He accused the committee of failing to pursue crucial testimonies and neglecting key investigative avenues that could have provided clarity and accountability for the administration’s decisions.
Dunleavy’s frustrations stem from what he views as the committee’s inadequate response to the Biden administration's actions during the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Having joined the committee after a stint at the Washington Examiner, Dunleavy was initially optimistic about the investigation’s potential to uncover critical insights. However, his optimism waned as he witnessed what he considered a lackluster pursuit of accountability.
In his resignation letter, Dunleavy specifically criticized the committee’s failure to secure testimony from Gold Star families and individuals with inside knowledge of U.S.-Taliban relations.
He emphasized that these testimonies were essential for a comprehensive understanding of the decisions leading up to and during the withdrawal. Despite the committee’s majority power in the House, Dunleavy felt that this authority was not effectively utilized.
Dunleavy’s resignation letter was a pointed critique of the committee’s actions, or lack thereof. He described the withdrawal as a "deadly disaster" and expressed dismay over what he saw as a missed opportunity to hold key figures accountable.
“I believe the Committee’s work has been important,” Dunleavy wrote, “but the investigation has repeatedly uncovered evidence further solidifying the undeniable fact that the dangerous decision by President Biden...was a deadly disaster.”
Dunleavy also accused the committee of breaking promises made to the American public and Gold Star families. These promises, he claimed, included a thorough investigation that would leave no stone unturned. Yet, according to Dunleavy, the committee’s actions fell short of these commitments.
Throughout his resignation, Dunleavy repeatedly pointed to what he considered a lack of moral clarity and courage from the committee’s leadership. His criticism was not only directed at Chairman McCaul but also at the broader culture of unaccountability, he perceives in Washington, particularly regarding the Afghanistan war.
Dunleavy expressed concern that the committee’s investigation would not only fail to address this culture but might even embolden it.
Dunleavy did not take his decision to resign lightly. He expressed that his conscience would not allow him to remain silent about what he viewed as a “sham” investigation. “I did not come lightly to this decision to resign & to blow the whistle publicly,” Dunleavy stated, “but I could not be a part of this sham any longer & my conscience simply will not allow me to be silent.”
In response to Dunleavy’s resignation and public criticism, Emily Cassil, a spokeswoman for Chairman McCaul and the committee, acknowledged that there were limitations to the investigation. Cassil pointed to jurisdictional issues and a lack of cooperation from the White House as significant challenges. Despite these hurdles, she defended McCaul’s dedication to the investigation.
Cassil highlighted an upcoming report, scheduled for release in September, which will include testimony from around 20 senior Biden administration officials.
She emphasized that this report would be a crucial next step in the investigation and that it reflects thousands of hours of work by the committee’s staff and members. “Its release will not be the end of our work,” Cassil said, “but a crucial next step toward ensuring the personal accountability that the Biden-Harris administration refused to provide.”
Despite Dunleavy’s resignation and the criticisms he raised, the committee maintains that it is still committed to its investigation. Cassil reiterated that the committee is the only body actively investigating the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. She emphasized that the upcoming report is just one part of the committee’s ongoing efforts to ensure accountability.
However, Dunleavy’s concerns about the investigation’s effectiveness remain. In his resignation letter, he warned that the committee’s approach might ultimately contribute to a culture of unaccountability rather than remedy it.
Dunleavy expressed his fear that those in power had not learned the necessary lessons from the Afghanistan war and that the committee’s investigation was not doing enough to address this issue.
Dunleavy’s resignation from the House Foreign Affairs Committee has raised serious questions about the effectiveness and integrity of the committee’s investigation into the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal.
His criticisms of missed opportunities, unfulfilled promises, and a perceived lack of courage in pursuing accountability have cast a shadow over the committee’s efforts.
As the committee prepares to release its September report, the impact of Dunleavy’s departure and the concerns he raised will likely continue to resonate. Whether the committee can address these concerns and deliver on its promises remains to be seen.
