Introduced a Bill to Assess Threat of Freed Terrorists
This week, I introduced the Afghanistan Withdrawal Threat Assessment Act which would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct a threat assessment to the Homeland posed by the prisoners that were released from the Pul-e-Charkhi Prison and the Parwan Detention Facility in Afghanistan. These facilities housed thousands of jailed ISIS and Al Qaeda fighters.
President Biden’s reckless and chaotic Afghanistan evacuation led to the Taliban releasing thousands of known and jailed terrorists from prisons in Afghanistan. There is no doubt in my mind that this failure by the Biden Administration has emboldened ISIS and Al Qaeda, who are sure to be plotting the next attack on American soil.
My legislation delivers critical answers on who these prisoners are and who they are associated with to help understand the threat they pose, as well as our ability to respond. The chaotic evacuation and continuing crisis at the southern border has made our country less safe and less secure. As the Ranking Member on the Intelligence and Counterterrorism subcommittee, I am committed to holding the Biden Administration’s feet to the fire to provide a clear picture of any and all future threats to the Homeland.
Demanding the Release of the Biden/Ghani Call Transcript
I joined a group of lawmakers in sending a letter to President Biden demanding an immediate release of the complete, uncensored transcript of his phone call with former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani after reports emerged this week that President Biden pressured Ghani into downplaying the threat posed by the Taliban just three weeks before the terrorist group took control of the country.
This damning phone call further erodes the confidence of the American people in this Administration's ability to lead. The President's disturbing emphasis on “perception,” a term used four times in the Reuters excerpts of the call with Ghani, over substance and truth demands scrutiny and accountability.
Congress has a duty to oversee the Executive Branch. The American people deserve answers and clarity. We are urging the Administration to expeditiously release the full transcripts of the call.