A senior investigator has resigned from the Republican-led House Foreign Affairs Committee’s investigation into the Biden administration’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, alleging that the panel is not fully utilizing its authority to scrutinize the U.S. pullout’s failures.
Jerry Dunleavy, a former journalist and author who documented first-person accounts of the withdrawal, announced his resignation on Monday via social platform X. In his four-page resignation letter, Dunleavy declared himself a whistleblower, accusing the committee of suffering from “investigative paralysis.”
Dunleavy criticized the committee's leadership, particularly House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas), for repeatedly stalling investigative efforts. He noted that key investigative leads were hindered by the chief investigator, senior staff, and at times, by McCaul’s indecision.
In an interview with The Hill, Dunleavy expressed urgency in pressing the investigation ahead of the November elections, particularly focusing on holding military leaders accountable. He accused the committee of treating retired Gens. Mark Milley and Kenneth McKenzie with “kid gloves” during a March hearing, despite their significant roles in the withdrawal.
Dunleavy also claimed that the committee had taken “zero steps” to investigate Vice President Kamala Harris's involvement in the Afghanistan pullout, alleging resistance from his superiors on this issue. He emphasized the importance of holding Harris accountable, especially as she is now the Democratic nominee for President of the United States.
In response to Dunleavy’s resignation, Emily Cassil, a spokesperson for committee Republicans, asserted that McCaul is dedicated to uncovering the truth for Gold Star families and Afghanistan veterans. A Republican committee aide also rebutted Dunleavy’s claims, stating that Harris’s role in the withdrawal would be addressed in the committee’s final report, expected in September.