After being given the opportunity to respond to numerous allegations of legal, ethical, and administrative violations, and failing to directly respond, the President has removed Mr. Brett Blanton from his position a decision I firmly stand behind, said Rep. Joseph Morelle (D-N.Y.) the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee. President Biden on Monday fired the Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton after a report alleged he abused his office. Im outraged that you would be in a comfortable place, sir, while the rest of us were thinking about dying that day and how we were going to come out alive that day, Democratic California Rep. Norma Torres said at the hearing. [8] Multiple instances of the Blanton family misusing government cars for personal use were documented in the report, which also documented how Blanton's wife gave unauthorized tours of the U.S. Capitol and that Blanton misrepresented himself as a police officer. Blanton responded that he did not have police radios and sufficient equipment in his house. McCarthy joins House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) and ranking member Joseph Morelle (D-N.Y.) in calling for the resignation of the Architect of the Capitol, who oversees the Capitol complexs building maintenance, preservation and development. Mr. Blanton faced growing calls to step down from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, including from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy who urged his resignation on Monday. 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The architect of the Capitol is tasked with maintaining and operating Capitol grounds, according to AOC.gov. He referred to it as "an alternate work site" and said having to switch vehicles would slow him down. J. Brett Blanton, the Architect of the Capitol, was grilled by House Committee on Administration members last week. The vehicle was driven for some 30,000 miles despite limitations to use for official work only. ", "I wholeheartedly reject any assertation that I've engaged in unethical behavior during my service to this country," Blanton said. Based on the conduct alleged by the Inspector General and todays testimony, I am no longer confident in Mr. Blantons ability to effectively perform the duties of his office. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle jumped on that. The Inspector Generals report was highly concerning, Steil said. U.S. Capitol Architect, Brett Blanton, remains under scrutiny after an intense House of Administration hearing, last Thursday. "You would have to address that with members of my family," Blanton responded. The inspector generals report, released in October, said Blanton had misused his government vehicle by driving it to vacation destinations and allowing his family to use it for personal matters. Did You Ever Wonder How and Why the Left Is Able to Push Their Narratives Almost Unhindered? An inspector generalreportreleased in October found that Blanton and his family had misused Architect of the Capitol vehicles intended for home-to-work use as personal vehicles, resulting in nearly $14,000 worth of inappropriate costs. Blanton, who remains the only member of the U.S. Capitol Police Board not to resign in the wake of the incident, also answered questions about his misuse of government-provided SUVs and deliberate misrepresentation of himself as a police officer among other accusations which include giving private tours to patriots in the weeks The Inspector Generals report was highly concerning, which is, in part, why our first hearing was dedicated to providing oversight over the [Architect of the Capitol]. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact. The report also said Blanton mischaracterized his government position, at one point chasing down a vehicle that was described as having been involved in a hit-and-run and misrepresenting himself as a law enforcement official. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The misuse of the government vehicle resulted in "no less than $13,926.56 as net questioned costs," the report found. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately," McCarthy tweeted. The White House terminated Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton's appointment on Monday. President Joe Biden has fired Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton, a White House official told NBC News on Monday, in the wake of a report that said he had abused his authority and misused taxpayer money overseeing the Capitol complex. Mr. Blanton's incompetency is a danger to his office, and I join @RepJoeMorelle to call for his immediate resignation," Torres tweeted. He should resign or President Biden should remove him The inspector general was first alerted to these problems through a complaint on a hotline on March 7, 2021. The Daily Caller | 1775 Eye Street NW | Suite 1150-290 | Washington, DC 20006. Blanton earned his Master of Science from Virginia Tech in Ocean Engineering and his Bachelor of Science in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 1993. Zoom out: The Architect of the Capitol is responsible for the maintenance and preservation of the Capitol and its surrounding grounds, which includes the House and Senate office buildings. [5], President Donald Trump nominated Blanton on December 9, 2019, for a ten-year term as Architect of the Capitol. Copyright 2023 HotAir.com/Salem Media. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Monday called on Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton to resign after damaging inspector general report last fall. "The Inspector General's report was highly concerning, which is, in part, why our first hearing was dedicated to providing oversight over the AOC," Steil said. Democratic New York Rep. Joe Morelle, ranking member of the House Administration Committee, confirmed the firing in a statement. Committee members characterized his performance as evasive, and Morelle responded by calling for his resignation. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. Biden ousted Brett Blanton, the previous capitol architect, earlier this month after an inspector generals report found that he misused his authority. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe link, found at the bottom of every email. An investigation conducted by the Architect of the Capitol Inspector General's Office found Blanton had "abused his authority, misused government property and wasted taxpayer money, among other substantiated violations.". [9], As a result, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, an omnibus spending bill, included a clause in the AOC budget "That none of the funds appropriated or made available under this heading in this Act or any other Act, including previous Acts, may be used for a home-to-work vehicle for the Architect or a duly authorized designee". Spokane, Washington Est. One big strike against Blanton was the fact that he was not physically present on the Capitol grounds on January 6, 2021. here for reprint permission. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. I wholeheartedly reject any assertion that I engaged in unethical behavior during my service to this country, he testified. His responsibilities include overseeing the Capitol's property management and operations. On February 13, 2023, President Joe Biden terminated Blanton's appointment as Architect of the Capitol.[2]. Joe Biden should immediately FIRE AOC Blanton. The Inspector Generals report was highly concerning, which is, in part, why our first hearing was dedicated to providing oversight over the AOC. CAPITOL HILL'S TOP MANAGER FACING MISCONDUCT HEARING FOR ALLEGED MISUSE OF POSITION. Frank Thorp V is a producer and off-air reporter covering Congress for NBC News, managing coverage of the Senate. On December 19, 2019, the full Senate confirmed his nomination by voice vote. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. President Joe Biden removed Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton from his post days after House lawmakers grilled him about his reported misuse of government resources. President Biden did the right thing and heeded my call for action. He was sworn in on Jan. 16, 2020. "All PATRIOTS welcome," one of her posts proclaimed. Blanton said in last weeks hearing that his vehicle served as the Architect of the Capitols mobile command post during Jan. 6, 2021, during the Capitol attack, and did not go to the Capitol during the attack because there would have been next to no way to get onto this campus.. James Brett Blanton is an American professional engineer who served as Architect of the Capitol (AOC) from January 2020 until February 13, 2023 overseeing the office of the Architect of the Capitol and its more than 2,400 employees. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre previously told reporters Monday that the administration was weighing its options. WaPo: FBI resisted Mar-a-Lago raid, DoJ prosecutors demanded it. - He wasnt able to drive there. "As Ranking Member of the House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight, I found Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton's answers at today's hearing appalling. Committee GOP (@HouseAdmin) February 13, 2023, Democrats expressed anger with Blantons handling of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. I think it may be, certainly of anyone with a position of power and a title. President Biden fired Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton Monday after lawmakers from both sides of the aisle demanded he resign or be fired. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. Blanton is one of three voting members of the United States Capitol Police Board, which oversees the USCP. CAPITOL HILL'S TOP MANAGER FACING MISCONDUCT HEARING FOR ALLEGED MISUSE OF POSITION The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no You have permission to edit this article. The federal watchdog also accused Blanton, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, of ethics violations over an offer to provide tours to patriots weeks before the November 2020 election. "I look forward to working with my colleagues to begin a search for a new Architect immediately, he said. Blanton did himself few favors with his testimony to the House Administration Committee last week in which he admitted to being absent from the Architect of the Capitol, Office of the Inspector General. He then served as Deputy Vice President for Engineering at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority which operates the Reagan National and Dulles International Airports. Blanton was appointed to the role by former President Donald Trump in 2019. The Architect was not on-site during the riot, but worked out of his government car. Wisconsin Rep. Bryan Steil, the Republican heading the committee, asked if Blanton had impersonated a law enforcement officer, as alleged in the report. 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Marjorie Taylor Greene: Isnt she, Fight in high school classroom leaves one dead, one, School culture wars fuel top House GOP bill, Product safety commission requests information on, House Democrats gather to chart path toward 2024. Blanton said in the hearing that he used the vehicle during an out-of-state family vacation because he was under the impression that I had to use that vehicle so he could have quick communication with the Capitol Police Board in case of any emergency. If you want the facts, then sign up below and join our movement for objective news: Get news from American Digest in your inbox. (RELATED: Capitol Police Downplayed Intelligence From Security Firm Warning Of Capitol Riot). "Since I have only had the opportunity to read the Inspector General's summary report, I can only speak to the language that I have seen. Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, "PN1324 - Nomination of J. Brett Blanton for Congress of the United States, 116th Congress (2019-2020)", "Biden Fires Architect Of The Capitol Over Alleged Abuse Of Power", "Airport engineer nominated to be next Architect of the Capitol in Washington, D.C.", "J. Brett Blanton Nominated as Architect of the Capitol", "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Individuals to Key Administration Posts", 2021-0011-INVI-P J. Brett Blanton, Architect of the Capitol, Abused His Authority, Misused Government Property and Wasted Taxpayer Money, Among Other Substantiated Violations, Federal watchdog accuses Architect of the Capitol of ethics violations over offer to give patriots tours, "J. Brett Blanton on track to become next architect of the Capitol", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brett_Blanton&oldid=1139250130, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 14 February 2023, at 04:19. Blanton denied misrepresenting himself as law enforcement, saying that it was a mistake on the part of Fairfax County Police after Blanton identified himself a Capitol Police Board Member.. We publish the objective news, period. Moreover, I have fully invested to ensure that I meet the responsibilities and the expectations of this role.. Blanton could be removed only by the president because the architect of the Capitol is a presidential appointee confirmed by the Senate. "I wholeheartedly reject any assertion that I have engaged in unethical behavior during my service to this country while serving in this particular role, I have taken my commitment to transform the agency's culture to promote positive workplace for every AOC employee," Blanton said. The report also found that Blanton had been improperly identified as an off-duty police officer during an incident when he chased down a hit-and-run that happened outside his residence. Blanton served in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps for 22 years. "He should resign, or President Biden should remove him immediately," the California Republican added. According to the report, Blanton repeatedly misused his government-issued vehicle, misrepresented himself as a law enforcement officer, and led private tours of the Capitol. Blanton maintained at last weeks hearing that he needed to take the car with him on personal errands and vacations in case he needed to return to the Capitol or respond to an emergency, because it was equipped with certain communications devices. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job.