Gold Star families devastated by Biden's botched Afghanistan withdrawal endorse Hegseth for SecDef

The Abbey Gate Coalition, a group of the parents and families of those who tragically lost their lives in a terrorist attack after President Biden withdrew troops from Afghanistan, penned a letter to senators on Tuesday urging them to confirm President-elect Trump's defense nominee and doubling down on their criticism of the current administration's handling of the deadly event.

"We have been sitting by watching the current administration do nothing but attempt to take victory laps and thumb their noses at the sacrifice that our children made on that fateful day," the letter reads. "They have had no interest in giving us any of those answers that we seek, and have attempted to put Afghanistan in the rear view mirror as was further evidenced yesterday in President Biden's final address on his foreign affairs and his supposed successes.

The coalition has been critical of the Biden administration since the withdrawal, writing in the letter that they have been "stonewalled" by his administration.

"We have been stonewalled at every turn and only given 'bread-crumbs' to attempt to make us just go away! We feel that there has been a complete coverup at the department of Defense with the current Secretary of Defense leading the way," the coalition wrote.

The families said that the process for accountability for Afghanistan begins with the confirmation of Hegseth to lead the defense department.

"We ask that you please hear our words and feel the pain that we do, knowing that it was avoidable in respect to what happened to our children," the letter reads.

The Taliban claimed control of Afghanistan following the withdrawal. 

The families who lost loved ones during the botched withdrawal have previously and repeatedly slammed Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris over their deaths, including launching a scathing defense attack against Harris - when she was running for president - after the anniversary of the withdrawal last year. Parents and other loved ones claimed that the "administration killed my son" and that they "have not seen any support from you or your administration."

"Look at our faces. Look at our pain, and our heartbreak. And look at our rage. [The Afghanistan withdrawal] was not an extraordinary success," said Cheryl Juels, the aunt of Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee, at the RNC. "Joe Biden owes the men and women who served in Afghanistan a debt of gratitude, and an apology."