August 25, 2021
Rep. Meijer Provides Americans First Hand Account of Afghanistan Debacle Amid Biden’s Leadership Void
Lansing, Mich., August 25, 2021 – Days ago, Congressman and Afghanistan War veteran Peter Meijer returned to Kabul to provide vital oversight amid the tumultuous evacuation of Americans and our allies. The Biden administration and the Pentagon have failed to provide credible information about the situation on the ground for weeks. During today’s press conference Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said he couldn’t answer certain questions because they were at the gates or on the ground at the airport.
While Kirby and the Biden administration refused to provide answers, Meijer has been on the ground in Afghanistan and will be able to share observations that otherwise would have been impossible. In a statement given to the Detroit News regarding the purpose of the mission, Meijer stated:
“As members of Congress, we have a duty to provide oversight on the Executive Branch. There is no place in the world right now where oversight matters more. We conducted this visit in secret, speaking about it only after our departure, to minimize the risk and disruption to the people on the ground, and because we were there to gather information, not to grandstand. We left on a plane with empty seats, seated in crew-only seats to ensure that nobody who needed a seat would lose one because of our presence.”
While the President’s administration and others in the federal government were critical of Meijer’s trip, many across Michigan and the country were glad to see some much needed leadership out of their elected leaders.
“Rep Meijer had the courage to go to one of the most dangerous places in the world to provide crucial oversight and information to the American people,” said Eric Ventimiglia, Executive Director for Michigan Rising Action. Ventimiglia continued, “Many Michiganders have been desperately waiting for someone from the federal government to show leadership amid the Afghanistan crisis, and Rep. Meijer has established himself as that leader.”