Reports claim that the Trump transition team compiled a list of key military officers involved in Afghanistan withdrawal by 2021. These officers may face court martial, or other punishments.
NBC News reported the team is examining if it should convene a special committee to investigate the withdrawal efforts. This includes whether or not the actions of the officials amounted to treason or other criminal charges.
According to two sources, members of the senior leadership may be called back into active duty and charged with various crimes.
“It’s not clear the Trump administration would pursue treason charges, and instead could focus on lesser charges that highlight the officers’ involvement. ‘They want to set an example,’ said the person with knowledge of the plan.”
Matt Flynn, according to NBC News, will lead the investigation. Mark S. Zaid, Flynn’s attorney, denied the information.
Flynn’s lawyer said that his client had “nothing” to do with Trump’s transition team and “nobody has asked Mr. Flynn about his opinions on this hypothetical legal scenario.”
Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized this botched withdrawal and promised to dismiss the responsible parties after taking office.
Donald Trump said on Monday at the National Guard Association Conference that he would punish all senior military officials and diplomats involved in the Afghanistan withdrawal disaster in 2021. This was just hours after he paid homage to 13 servicemen killed by ISIS during the botched evacuation.
Kamala Harris and Joe Biden were responsible for the humiliation Americans suffered in Afghanistan, said the 78-year-old to an audience of part-time soldiers from Motor City along with their families. He said that voters will “fire Kamala Harris and Joe on November 5th, we hope.”
The Republican candidate said, “Once I take office, we’ll ask for the resignations of every official.” “The Republican candidate added “And when I am in office, we will request the resignations of every official.”
The House Foreign Affairs Committee investigated the scandal and found that Joe Biden placed his political legacy, personal politics, and national security above the nation and troops in the area. He ignored advisors, misled the public, and incurred unacceptable risks during the withdrawal.
The members of the committee stated that the president ignored advice from top military officials and NATO Allies as well as intelligence agencies.
Biden and Harris tried to blame Trump for the debacle that cost 13 American lives and injured others. Biden, who had shown little respect for the “Doha agreement” that Trump’s administration made with the Taliban regarding withdrawal dates, is cited as the reason why they are bound by the agreement. Biden’s former administration members also claimed that the Taliban violated its terms, invalidating it.
NBC News reported a source familiar with Trump’s team who said that the sources who speculated on the commission seemed to be “typical Washington, D.C., Insiders looking to enhance their position in the administration.”