Where is Markwayne Mullin?
That's the question many were asking after Mullin, a Republican Representative for the state of Oklahoma, embarked on a "rogue" trip to Afghanistan.
United States officials said they were "unsure" about Mullin's whereabouts. Mullin was warned multiple times by the Pentagon and State Department not to travel to the Taliban-controlled nation.
According to The Washington Post, Mullin demanded officials at the U.S. embassy in Tajikistan provide assistance for his plan to travel to Afghanistan and evacuate five American citizens. Why the Americans were in Afghanistan and why they didn't leave in the months leading up to the Trump accord with the Taliban was unclear.
The Post's report noted Mullin's plan also violated Tajikistan's currency restrictions.
"Mullin told the [Tajik] embassy that he planned to fly from Tblisi, Georgia, into Tajikistan's capital, Dushanbe, in the next few hours and needed the top diplomat's help, according to the two U.S. officials familiar with the incident, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to disclose private conversations about a sensitive matter."
"Embassy officials told Mullin they could not assist him in skirting Tajikistan's laws on cash limits on his way to visiting one of the most dangerous places on earth."
Mullin was reportedly "outraged" by the response.
But this was not the first time the politician attempted to travel to Afghanistan.
An administration official confirmed the Pentagon denied Mullin's request to travel to Afghanistan after requesting the Department of Defense's permission from Greece.
Mullin's rogue trip garnered heavy criticism.
Many suggested he was putting himself and anyone who would have to rescue him in unncessary danger to appeal to his voting base.
Others also lambasted the Republican Party and wondered when the party will be held accountable for blatantly circumventing the law.
On Wednesday, Mullin ended his media blackout to confirm he was alive.
The Oklahoma Republican took to Instagram to say he was on his way home.
Mullin's own attempts to travel to Afghanistan came after Massachusetts Democratic Representative Seth Moulton and Michigan Republican Representative Peter Meijer received harsh condemnation for making an unauthorized journey to Kabul.
Moulton and Meijer traveled to witness the rescue efforts. They and their staff were later returned on a military flight.
Their trip prompted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to issue a letter to all House members warning them to "not travel to Afghanistan and the region during this time of danger."
At the time, Pelosi cautioned such travel could jeopardize the U.S. military's evacuation efforts, which were ultimately completed on August 30.
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