This archive report was first published on 25 August 2021.
On Tuesday, two members of the US Congress, Representatives Seth Moulton and Peter Meijer, flew to Kabul without authorization, sparking a heated debate over their actions.
According to a statement released by the lawmakers, their purpose was to provide oversight on the executive branch, particularly in regards to the evacuation of Americans and Afghan allies.
However, administration officials were furious, arguing that the lawmakers' actions had diverted resources away from the evacuation efforts, putting those already in the country at risk.
Mr. Moulton and Mr. Meijer, both veterans, claimed that they had taken steps to minimize the disruption caused by their presence, including sitting in crew-only seats on the plane and leaving Afghanistan within 24 hours.
Despite their claims, Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged other lawmakers not to follow their example, citing the need to prioritize the evacuation efforts.
Ms. Pelosi wrote in a letter, “Member travel to Afghanistan and the surrounding countries would unnecessarily divert needed resources from the priority mission of safely and expeditiously evacuating Americans and Afghans at risk from Afghanistan.”
