An Oklahoma congressman kept trying to enter Afghanistan, and now it's unclear where he is
Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) called the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan on Monday and made a brazen request, two U.S. officials told The Washington Post — he said he was on his way to Afghanistan to rescue an American woman and her four children, but first he needed help getting a massive amount of cash into Tajikistan.
There is a limit on how much cash can be brought into Tajikistan, the Post reports, and Mullin told the staffer who answered the phone that he needed to carry enough to pay for a helicopter that would be used to get the family out of Afghanistan. Mullin said he would be flying from Tblisi, Georgia, into Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in a few hours, and for his operation to work, he needed the assistance of U.S. Ambassador John Mark Pommersheim. When the staffer told Mullin this wasn't possible, the congressman threatened Pommersheim and the Embassy's employees, and demanded to know the name of the person he was speaking to, U.S. officials told the Post.
The officials said this wasn't Mullin's first attempt to enter Afghanistan — last week, he flew to Greece and asked the Defense Department for permission to go to Kabul, a request that was rejected. The fact that he keeps ignoring warnings about not entering Afghanistan during a dangerous time is stunning and concerning, the officials told the Post, and as of Tuesday night, they do not know where he is. "To say this is extremely dangerous is a massive understatement," a State Department official said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Mullin, 44, was elected to Congress in 2012. A member of the conservative Republican Study Committee, he voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election results, and was a critic of President Biden's Afghanistan withdrawal plan. Two other congressmen who were able to get into Kabul last week, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) and Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Mich.), served in Iraq, but Mullin was not a member of the U.S. military. Mullin's office did not respond to the Post's multiple requests for comment, and when asked on Tuesday if he knew Mullin's whereabouts, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said nothing and walked away.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Eurovision 2024: how is politics playing out in Sweden?
Today's big question World's most popular song contest 'has always been politically charged' but 'this year perhaps more so than ever'
By The Week UK Published
-
'Trump's Tahoe tryst'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
In the fold with Gergei Erdei
The Blend Artist explains his foray into precious folding screens
By Mary Cleary Published
-
Israel proposes two-month pause in Gaza war in exchange for all Hamas hostages
Speed Read Deal doesn't include an agreement to end war, but might be 'the only path that could lead to a ceasefire', said US officials
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Nato official warns of all-out war with Russia in next 20 years
Speed Read Civilians must prepare for life-changing conflict and mass mobilisation, says military chief
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak visits Kyiv to announce £2.5 billion in military support for Ukraine
Speed Read Surprise trip comes amid increased Russian bombardment and escalation of Middle East crisis
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red Sea
Speed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Israel preparing to flood Hamas tunnels with seawater
Speed Read IDF pumps could drive out terrorists but critics warn of danger to hostages and Gaza water supply
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacks
speed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages released
Speed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'
Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
By The Week UK Published