NEWS FROM CONGRESSMAN DARRELL ISSA
Issa Calls for Emergency Return of House Following Biden Administration Disaster in Afghanistan “
President Biden needs to stop vacationing and accept accountability for what he’s done”
On August 16,Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) called on Speaker Pelosi to reconvene the House of Representatives in Washington to receive emergency testimony from and conduct oversight of the Biden Administration in the unfolding aftermath of America’s chaotic and disastrous pullout from Afghanistan.
“Our departure from Afghanistan did not have to descend into this: A forced flight, the need for emergency military reinforcements and panicked calls for international aid. The extent of the Biden Administration’s foreign policy naïveté hasn’t been seen in a White House since Jimmy Carter’s administration,” said Congressman Issa.
Specifically, Congressman Issa directed Speaker Pelosi’s attention to the fact that President Biden remains on vacation and largely absent over the course of the weekend.
“When Americans and our allies are under attack, leaders shouldn’t stay on vacation, where the White House apparently remains. I thus request you call on Congress to immediately return to Washington for emergency oversight briefings by senior level executive branch officials. Congress must have a full and complete accounting of the chaos unfolding and the failing response efforts now underway. We need a face-to-face dialogue and the full truth of this fiasco. Anything less is insufficient to conduct appropriate oversight and Congressional activity.”
He also specifically referenced a briefing for Members of Congress held yesterday by Biden Administration officials that Congressman Issa described as “woefully insufficient.
” “The telephonic ‘briefing’ to Congress on the deeply troubling failures was little more than a summary of publicly available talking points and media statements shared in previous forms. Current administration officials also continue to place all blame on their predecessors, an embarrassing refusal to take responsibility for events that this White House alone set in motion.
” The Congressman’s correspondence can be found here.
Statement by Congressman Darrell Issa Responding to Today’s Remarks by President Biden
On August 16, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) released the following statement on the President’s remarks about the fall of Afghanistan and the rapid advance of the Taliban:
“We waited a full six days for our vacationing President to address the nation. But after hearing his remarks, he might as well have stayed at Camp David.
“President Biden once again repeated the falsehood that he was forced by his predecessor to do what he did not want to do. But that’s not true. The fact is, President Biden alone is responsible for the chaos and mayhem in Afghanistan that is getting worse by the hour. He and he alone made the decisions that turned over American equipment, technology, and weaponry to the Taliban and surrendered our Embassy to terrorists.
“His claims that this was unavoidable, or part of his planning are ludicrous. Yes, America eventually had to leave Afghanistan—but on America’s terms, not the Taliban’s.
“President Biden, his foreign policy team and his Administration haven’t even come close to taking responsibility for what they’ve done to America’s standing and our national interest. That’s why I am reiterating my call for Speaker Pelosi to convene an emergency session of the House of Representatives. We need a face-to-face dialogue and the full truth of this fiasco. Anything less is insufficient to conduct appropriate oversight and Congressional activity.”
The Congressman’s correspondence to Speaker Pelosi can be found here.
Issa: Biden Must Answer 5 Critical Questions on Afghanistan
On August 18, following criticism of President Biden’s reading of prepared remarks on the crisis unfolding in Afghanistan, Congressman Darrell Issa, senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement:
“On Monday afternoon, the President read one prepared statement on the Afghanistan crisis, but he still owes the American people answers.
“President Biden must answer five critical questions about his leadership failures in Afghanistan:
“Why did you fail to create and implement a coherent plan to evacuate all Americans?
- Why were your intelligence assessments so incorrect?
- What did the United States agree to give the Taliban in exchange for the ability to extract Americans?
- What does our precipitous withdrawal signal to our allies, including Ukraine and Taiwan?
- Why should anyone trust the Biden Administration again on issues of national security?”
Congressman Issa has called on Speaker Pelosi to return Congress to Washington to receive testimony and conduct oversight on the collapse of Afghanistan.
Additionally, Congressman Issa has called for Secretaries Blinken and Austin to testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee next week.
Issa Calls for Emergency Session of House Judiciary Committee
On August 19, following criticism of President Biden’s reading of prepared remarks on the crisis unfolding in Afghanistan, Congressman Darrell Issa, senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement:
“On Monday afternoon, the President read one prepared statement on the Afghanistan crisis, but he still owes the American people answers.
“President Biden must answer five critical questions about his leadership failures in Afghanistan:
“Why did you fail to create and implement a coherent plan to evacuate all Americans?
“President Biden must answer five critical questions about his leadership failures in Afghanistan:
- Why did you fail to create and implement a coherent plan to evacuate all Americans?
- Why were your intelligence assessments so incorrect?
- What did the United States agree to give the Taliban in exchange for the ability to extract Americans?
- What does our precipitous withdrawal signal to our allies, including Ukraine and Taiwan?
- Why should anyone trust the Biden Administration again on issues of national security?”
Congressman Issa has called on Speaker Pelosi to return Congress to Washington to receive testimony and conduct oversight on the collapse of Afghanistan.
Additionally, Congressman Issa has called for Secretaries Blinken and Austin to testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee next week.
Issa Announces Local Families Freed from Afghanistan
On August 26, after working around-the-clock for more than a week, Congressman Darrell Issa has announced that two local San Diego-area families that were trapped in the Kabul region have successfully been freed from Afghanistan.
“This is great news, the result of tireless work by our team to ensure that our people aren’t left behind in Afghanistan,” said Congressman Issa. “But while we have made extraordinary progress, there are so many more Americans stranded in Afghanistan. We have more work to do and under extremely difficult conditions.”
After being contacted by local school officials, as well as a local husband and father and another relative, Issa staff was informed that families with several children were among the thousands of American citizens stranded in Afghanistan and the Congressman’s team worked nonstop to begin the successful process of getting people home.
In addition, the Congressman’s office received a request for help from the husband and father of five American citizens via a form the Congressman’s staff created on the issa.house.gov website. The Congressman then directed efforts to the highest levels of the U.S. government, including the State Department, the Department of Defense – as well as the White House – before the families began to be successfully extracted from Afghanistan.
“I could not be more pleased at what has been achieved so far. But this is only a start to finally bringing our community back together and bringing our people home.”
AFGHANISTAN UPDATE FROM CONGRESSMAN ISSA
** Two Additional Families No Longer Stranded in Afghanistan **
On August 27, after working to secure their release overnight, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) said this morning that two additional San Diego-area families are on their way home from Afghanistan.
“Amidst the heartbreak of yesterday and the chaos that has gripped Afghanistan for weeks, we continue to make extraordinary progress in bringing our people home,” said Congressman Issa. “It is an honor to help rescue and reunite families and loved ones, but we still have more work to do.
” Congressman Issa detailed that the two additional family units of last night comprised of seven people – three adults and four children – represent a total of six El Cajon-area families the office has helped extract from Afghanistan. The first four evacuated included seven adults and 16 children. We believe that most of the 20 total children are enrolled in school within the Cajon Valley Union School District, although exact numbers are not known at this time.
Congressman Issa concluded: “This has been an around-the-clock operation, and individuals inside of government and outside of it deserve our deepest thanks. But more members of our community still need our help. The mission is to bring our people home, and we will continue to do it.”
Congressman Issa Afghanistan Update: Aug. 28
Working to Free More Than a Dozen of Our Community Members From Afghanistan
Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) released the following update detailing some of the casework of community members his offices are working on at this hour to escape from Afghanistan.
“We are actively working as of this hour to help more than a dozen members of our community unable to cross Taliban checkpoints or who are literally at the airport gates but cannot gain entry to safety. Those still in country include children and seniors, and the situation grows more dire by the minute,” said Congressman Issa.
Specifically, Congressman Issa detailed that the cases he and his staff are handling include community members of the El Cajon school district region, as well as individuals he learned of several days ago and were contacted about only hours ago. Requests for the Congressman’s help continue to arrive throughout every day. He encourages those in need to contact him through his official website: https://issa.house.gov
Congressman Issa reiterated that his office has to date helped a total of six El Cajon-area families out of Afghanistan totaling 10 adults and 20 children. We believe that most of the 20 total children are enrolled in school within the Cajon Valley Union School District, although exact numbers are not known at this time.
“Here’s my bottom line: There is no way that America can leave our people behind, and we won’t stop working until everybody we know of comes home. I continue to have faith that we will do it,” said Congressman Issa.
SUNDAY AUGUST 29 AFGHANISTAN UPDATE
Issa Demands Biden Not Turn His Back on American Citizens at Airport Gates:
“How can the President allow this to happen?”
Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) released the following update detailing the casework of community members his offices are working on at this hour to escape from Afghanistan.
“My team continues to work around the clock with contacts in and out of government. As of one hour ago, we are guiding American citizens to known Kabul airport entry points, but they are being repeatedly turned back by the Taliban,” said Congressman Issa. “The situation has deteriorated to where entry points our people passed through only days ago are now impeded by the Taliban. If this Administration allows our people to be blocked when they are this close to freedom, that is on the President’s shoulders and no one else’s.
” Specifically, Congressman Issa detailed that the cases he and his staff are handling now include more than two dozen community members, including some from the El Cajon school district region as well as individuals he learned of as recently as one day ago. Requests for the Congressman’s help continue to arrive every hour. He encourages those in need to contact him through his official website: https://issa.house.gov
Congressman Issa reiterated that his office has to date helped a total of six El Cajon-area families out of Afghanistan totaling 10 adults and 20 children. We believe that most of the 20 total children are enrolled in school within the Cajon Valley Union School District, although exact numbers are not known at this time
“This is a time for all Americans to stand strong for our people and leave no one behind. President Biden must not continue to be a bystander to this chaos and allow the terms of terrorists to control him. I know we can do this, and we will not stop every single member of our community is home,” said Congressman Issa.
Congressman Issa Joined by Families and Students He Helped Escape from Afghanistan
On September 3, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) held a media event with families and students who escaped Afghanistan with his help. After the event, Congressman Issa issued the following statement:
“My team and I set a goal to bring Americans stranded in Afghanistan home – meeting and speaking with the families and children we were able to help escape was an honor and a testament to the tireless work of our team,” said Congressman Issa. “While this extraordinary gathering was a joyous welcome for these families, it only furthered my determination to bring the remaining stranded Americans back home to their loved ones.
” “Cajon Valley Union School District Family and Community Liaisons confirmed that there are a total of 38 people rescued, 19 of whom are Cajon Valley students. One family consisting of the mother and four children was left behind in Afghanistan and we are exploring strategies to rescue and bring them home,” said Cajon Valley Union School District Superintendent David Miyashiro.
The link to the full media event can be found HERE.
Congressman Issa was also joined by El Cajon Valley Union School District Superintendent David Miyashiro and his team, and El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells at yesterday’s event.
Congressman Issa reiterated that his office has to date helped a total of six El Cajon-area families out of Afghanistan totaling 11 adults and 20 children. Rep. Issa and his office are still actively working to bring an additional family from the El Cajon community home, husband and wife both more than 80 years old, a pregnant American citizen beaten by the Taliban, an interpreter, and other stranded individuals back home to America.
New requests for the Congressman’s help continue to arrive. Individuals are encouraged to submit requests through the Afghanistan Evacuation Assistance Form at https://issa.house.gov.
Issa Calls on President to Meet with Families of American Hostages Abandoned in Afghanistan
On September 8, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) has written directly to President Biden calling on him to meet personally with the families of every American stranded in Afghanistan. The safe homecoming of American citizens, Legal Permanent Residents, and confirmed allies from Afghanistan must be this Administration’s top priority.
“The Americans we know are stranded in Afghanistan didn’t want to stay behind. President Biden left them behind. That’s why he has a moral obligation to meet their families, look them in the eye, and explain how he’s working to earn the release of hostages he stranded in Afghanistan,” Issa said.
Congressman Issa and his team have helped rescue 31 members of his community from Afghanistan, including six El Cajon-area families and other Americans and SIV visa holders. But more citizens are still being held against their will, including Nasria, a pregnant American citizen, who has braved beatings and harassment by the Taliban trying to get past their checkpoints to return home to the U.S; a local family including local schoolchildren unable to leave; a couple over the age of 80 who tried repeatedly over multiple days to get through Taliban checkpoints but were harassed and intimidated blocking their efforts to get to the safety of American forces.
“President Biden cannot remain a bystander to the chaos his Administration has caused,” said Congressman Issa. “While our team continues to work around the clock, the President has taken at least two vacations and his Administration vows to ‘turn the page.’ We have a better idea: Bring them home.
” A copy of the letter is featured below and a full version can be found HERE
Issa: Hundreds of Americans Held Hostage in Afghanistan
Congressman Confirms ‘White House Not Credible’
On September 9, Congressman Issa issued the following statement addressing the ongoing hostage crisis in Afghanistan:
“Reports that Americans are boarding flights from Afghanistan today is welcome news, but also a stark reminder that President Biden brought tens of thousands of Afghans to America that we don’t know and stranded hundreds of citizens he promised to bring home. This continuing failure is on the shoulders of President Biden alone, and his passive bystander posture in the aftermath of a hostage crisis he created is a scandal.
“It is outrageous for the Secretary of State and White House officials to mislead the nation and intentionally downplay the significant numbers of Americans this Administration left behind in Afghanistan. Our continuing casework confirms that several hundred citizens are still on the ground there and want to come home.
“Enough double-talk from the White House. Enough guesswork from its press secretary. The Congress shouldn’t wait one more day for this Administration to inform the nation how many Americans it knows are in Afghanistan and the immediate plan to return them safely to their country.”
Darrell Issa is the Representative of California’s 50th Congressional District. The District encompasses the central and northeastern parts of San Diego County and a portion of Riverside County, including the communities of Fallbrook, San Marcos, Valley Center, Ramona, Escondido, Santee, Lakeside, El Cajon, Temecula, and the mountain and desert areas of the San Diego-Imperial County line. Issa served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2011-2015.
