Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy is prone to partisan stances on social media, where he is as likely to be found attacking the Biden Administration, his Democratic colleagues in the House, or Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg (see McCarthy’s pinned tweet signaling his priorities as a lawmaker) as America’s foreign adversaries.
But McCarthy does recognize that America has enemies who aren’t American Democrats, even as some of his MAGA counterparts are less inclined toward this view.
McCarthy recently took bipartisan aim, for example, at China in meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan. Today, without shaming the current administration or assigning blame, McCarthy retweeted House Oversight Committee testimony by John Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR).
Sopko startled, saying: “As I sit here today, I cannot assure this committee or the American taxpayer we are not currently funding the Taliban.”
🚨🚨
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) April 19, 2023
“As I sit here today, I cannot assure this committee or the American taxpayer we are not currently funding the Taliban.”
Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John Sopko gives alarming testimony regarding U.S. funding in Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/BfXl6F32Dq
In contrast to McCarthy’s light-handed nonpartisan warning, Rep. James Comer, Chairman of House Oversight Committee, implied that President Biden owned responsibility for the situation in Afghanistan, calling the Taliban rule in Kabul “Joe Biden’s legacy.” (Comer also admits he was in favor of withdrawal.)
“Let me be clear, I was in favor of leaving Afghanistan, but it should never have been done like this.”
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) April 19, 2023
Today, the Taliban flag flies over Kabul. This is Joe Biden’s legacy.
@RepJamesComer opens hearing with a rebuke of Biden’s disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal. pic.twitter.com/v4BEd4zqhQ
Background: John F. Sopko was appointed to the SIGAR post by President Barack Obama in 2012. SIGAR is an independent, non-partisan watchdog that investigates waste, fraud, and abuse in the U.S. government’s reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.
Sopko is a lawyer and former federal prosecutor. He has over 30 years of experience in government oversight and investigations. Before joining SIGAR, he was a partner at the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. He also served as a congressional counsel and senior advisor to the House and Senate Intelligence Committees.
Sopko has been a vocal critic of the U.S. government’s reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. He has repeatedly called for greater accountability and transparency from the government. In 2019, he released a report that found that the U.S. government had wasted billions of dollars in Afghanistan.
Sopko is a controversial figure. He has been criticized by some for his outspokenness and his willingness to criticize the government. However, he is also widely respected for his independence and his commitment to accountability.
.jpg){kind=link}