January 1, House Republicans sound alarm over prisoners freed by Taliban

A group of House Republicans penned a letter to White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan demanding answers about the thousands of prisoners released by the Taliban.

House Homeland Security Ranking Member John Katko (R-NY), House Homeland Security Ranking Member Michael McCaul (R-TX), and House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Mike Rogers (R-AL) authored the letter.

“Amidst the litany of security, humanitarian, and diplomatic crises emerging from the Biden-Harris Administration’s chaotic withdrawal process in Afghanistan, we write concerning widespread media reporting that the Taliban has released thousands of prisoners from detention facilities, including the Pul-e-Charkhi prison in Kabul and at Bagram Air Base,” the lawmakers wrote.

“Prisoners reported to have been held in these detention facilities include thousands of Taliban fighters, senior Al Qaeda operatives, Islamic State Afghanistan (ISKP) members, and former Guantanamo Bay detainees–all of whom pose serious concern to the security of the United States,” the letter read.

Source

• House Republicans warn prisoners freed by Taliban ‘pose serious concern’ to US security