[3] Blanton is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Civil Engineering and a Certified Energy Manager. 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. Doctors prescribe Ozempic off label: Is that OK? However, a report from the Office of the Inspector General uncovered several troubling things about Blanton that have led to calls for President Joe Biden to remove him. WASHINGTON - Committee on House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil (R-WI) today issued the following statement calling on Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton to immediately resign: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) plays a key role in preserving I am outraged to hear that you were 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, Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.) said during the hearing, saying that a police officer could not close or lock a door because he did not have the keys. Blanton served in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps for 22 years. (RELATED: Capitol Police Downplayed Intelligence From Security Firm Warning Of Capitol Riot). In his opening statement he had noted that the AOC vehicle is to allow the architect to support the Capitol in a remote capacity, and that "it is inaccurate to characterize the state of the vehicle is only for home to work purposes.". Terms of Use / Privacy Policy / Manage Newsletters, - The report noted that there was no official violation, but that these tours were not a good look. [1], Blanton was terminated from his position after an inspector general's report found "administrative, ethical and policy violations" by Blanton, including allegations that he misused his government vehicle and misrepresented himself as a law enforcement official.[2]. NPR's Scott Detrow contributed to this report. The Inspector General report accused Blanton of using his government-owned vehicle as his and his family's personal car and offering private tours of the Capitol in September 2020, when the building was closed due to COVID, among other abuses. "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. If you need to be tethered, and if you needed a vehicle to be here, why did you make the decision not to come here and could you not have without the vehicle and all the emergency equipment thats attached to it? The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. ), the chair of the panel, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) He wasnt able to drive there. Morelle called for Blantons resignation last week. In an exchange with the committee chairman, Republican Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, Blanton defended not being at the Capitol during the insurrection because he claimed he was unable to drive there since there were so many people on the grounds. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately. $12,434 in unreported, taxable noncash fringe benefits. Blanton also allegedly misrepresented himself as a law enforcement official. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. U.S. Capitol Architect, Brett Blanton, remains under scrutiny after an intense House of Administration hearing, last Thursday. "The Inspector General's report was highly concerning, which is, in part, why our first hearing was dedicated to providing oversight over the AOC. 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. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle jumped on that. An inspector general's report said Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton "abused his authority," "misused government property" and "wasted taxpayer money.". After all this, House Administration Committee Chairman Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) called for Blanton's resignation. The move comes after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) urged the president to oust Blanton on Monday, contending that he lost faith in him. One big strike against Blanton was the fact that he was not physically present on the Capitol grounds on January 6, 2021. He should resign or President Biden should remove him If you want the facts, then sign up below and join our movement for objective news: Get news from American Digest in your inbox. Blanton also stated that on January 6 he was using his official vehicle as the Architect of the Capitol's mobile command post. 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 [1] He was sworn in on January 16, 2020.[7]. Blanton was three years into a 10-year-long term. Mica Soellner can be reached at msoellner@washingtontimes.com. The inspector general's report was released last fall, but Blanton found himself in the hot seat again last week during a House Administration Committee hearing, where he told lawmakers that he wasn't on the grounds during the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Architect of the U.S. Capitol Brett Blanton testifies before the House Administration Committee in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill on February 9. Mr. Blanton's incompetency is a danger to his office, and I join @RepJoeMorelle to call for his immediate resignation," Torres tweeted. President Joe Biden has fired embattled Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton, who oversees the historic building that houses Congress and its expansive grounds, as pressure mounted for his removal following a scathing inspector general report of personal and management lapses. Following the reports release, six Democrats who chair committees that oversee the AOC called for Blantons removal, explaining that, Based on the His explanation of being off campus during the day of Jan. 6 enraged some lawmakers. The Architect of the Capitol is responsible for maintaining and operating Capitol grounds, and sits on the Capitol Police Board. 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. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe link, found at the bottom of every email. "You would have to address that with members of my family," Blanton responded. The report is filled with errors, omissions, mischaracterizations, misstatements and conclusory statements lacking evidence.. On December 16, 2019, the Committee reported his nomination favorably to the Senate floor. A number of Democrats, including Torres, also called for Blanton's ouster. President Joe Biden fired the Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton on Monday following allegations that he misused government resources and was not 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. "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. I look forward to working with my colleagues to begin a search for a new Architect immediately.. Wisconsin Rep. Bryan Steil, the Republican heading the committee, asked if Blanton had impersonated a law enforcement officer, as alleged in the report. Blanton could be removed only by the president because the architect of the Capitol is a presidential appointee confirmed by the Senate. We publish the objective news, period. The misuse of the government vehicle resulted in "no less than $13,926.56 as net questioned costs," the report found. Blanton was appointed in 2019 by President Donald Trump to a ten-year term. The Architect of the Capitol is responsible for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol Complex. On February 13, 2023, President Joe Biden terminated Blanton's appointment as Architect of the Capitol.[2]. marijuana special election, Voters re-elect members of Oklahoma City Council, Yukon bond election set for street improvements, Prominent Republicans hold off on backing Trump, Registration deadline approaching for recreational, Oklahoma voters to decide on massive school bond, Judge dismisses Kari Lakes last election challenges, DeSantis tops Trump by 23 points among Republicans, SCOTUS hears case to determine who controls elections, Trump hosts Mar-a-Lago event with prominent QAnon,, RNC chief on criticism of early voting: We need, John Bolton going to seriously consider challenging, Why Democrats are so optimistic about winning the, Arizona certifies 2022 election results amid threat, DNC panel votes to make South Carolina first nominating, Defeated Arizona hopeful Kari Lake sues Maricopa, Republican House majority climbs to 220 with win, Ex-Trump defense chief: Hes unfit for office,, OK rep calling for change to state Board of Education, Flashpoint: Should taxpayers pay for Catholic charter, Flashpoint team talks DEI, State of the Union, Flashpoint team talks recreational marijuana in OK, Flashpoint team talks classified documents, Ryan, Flashpoint team talks high-profile ruling regarding, Chocolate peanut butter cups recalled nationwide, Dish Network confirms cybersecurity breach, AAA urges these Honda owners to check for recalls, After death, blindness, FDA expands eye drop warning, 145K cans of baby formula recalled out of abundance, Netflix tackling password sharing: 3 things to know, FDA recalls Starbucks drink that may contain glass, Tesla recalling 362K vehicles due to crash risk, Disney character toys recalled over choking hazard, Childrens pajamas recalled over burn risk, OKC police update investigation into Hobby Lobby, Windshield covers and other handy gear you need for, 18 trendy cowboy boots to wear this winter, 18 books youll want to read on Dr. Seuss Day, WATCH: Trooper rescues and adopts injured kitten, Hero school bus driver saves student from passing, Graphic video shows student attacking teachers aide, DUI Driver plows into church, injures three, WATCH: Fleeing suspects car misses train by mere, Cameras capture suspects stealing $50,000 in handbags, Dish Network still reeling from week-old ransomware, TikTok sets new default time limits for minors, Edmunds: The most affordable EVs for 2023, Here are the countries that have bans on TikTok, This feature may be making your iPhone charge slower, Protesters to Norways energy minister: you talk, Man who asked where Capitol swamp rats were on, Jan. 6 rioter who carried Confederate flag sentenced, 47 years? The president fired Blanton after the White House did "due diligence," a White House official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel issues. Blanton was appointed by former President Donald Trump and remained in the job when Biden came into office. The Blanton familys use of agency vehicles added up to at least $12,434 in unreported, taxable noncash fringe benefits. Blanton also allegedly misrepresented himself as a law enforcement official. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. "He should resign, or President Biden should remove him immediately," the California Republican added. Blanton was During the pandemic, Blanton reportedly gave tours of the U.S. Capitol despite the official closure of the building to the public. Updated February 13, 2023 at 7:24 PM ET. Architect of the Capitol, Office of the Inspector General. ", The call was echoed by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who tweeted that Blanton "no longer has my confidence to continue in his job.. He was the only member of the board who did not resign or lose President Biden on Monday fired the Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton after a report alleged he abused his office. I look forward to continuing to conduct robust oversight to ensure our government is accountable to the American people, Steil said in a statement on Monday. All Rights Reserved. The committees top Democrat, Rep. Joseph D. Morelle of New York, also called for Mr. Blanton to step down. Another incident involving the official vehicle occurred in 2020 when Blanton allegedly chased down a vehicle "involved in a hit-and-run incident that took place in front of his residence" using the SUV. Asked about the report earlier this month, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the White House is taking this very seriously and will take any advice that the members of Congress or any action that they want to take very seriously.. Haley Talbot is an associate producer in the NBC News Washington bureau. "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. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately," McCarthy tweeted. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Monday called on Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton to resign after damaging inspector general report last fall. I think it may be, certainly of anyone with a position of power and a title. When asked if he had used a government vehicle for personal use, Blanton said that he wouldn't characterize his use of the vehicle as personal. The inspector general found that Blanton's wife made "multiple social media posts" about the tours. 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. Ranking member Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) was so unsatisfied by Blantons performance, he called for his resignation #FireBlanton https://t.co/Ijf1xNCsxY. Driving the news: Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) praised the Biden administration for terminating Blanton. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images. He came under fire after an inspector general report found 'administrative, ethical, and policy violations'. The investigation was prompted by a tip about Blanton's daughter recklessly driving an AOC Ford Explorer at a Walmart in Tyson's Corner. His refusal to be transparent and truthful has made clear that he can no longer lead the organization and must resign immediately, Mr. Steil said in a statement. 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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. "His refusal to be transparent and truthful has made clear that he can no longer lead the organization and must resign immediately.". J. Brett Blanton, the architect of the Capitol, speaks at the Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting on Nov. 29. Biden fires Architect of the Capitol after calls for his resignation, Your photos of ice and snow, Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 18-year-old driver hospitalized after rollover wreck in Graves County, Man accused of killing KY officers dies by suicide in jail, WKYT reports, Speaking at Paducah City Commission meeting, former commission candidate Thomas says Commissioner David Guess should resign, Eli Lilly to cut insulin prices, cap costs at $35 for many people with diabetes, Kentucky State Police Posts 1, 2 holding numerous traffic safety checkpoints, Putin ally Lukashenko meets Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, Greek transport minister resigns over train crash; 36 dead, 2/28 Prep basketball highlights and scores, Community shares thoughts on roundabout proposal for Marshall County during public meeting, Chicago Mayor Lightfoot ousted; Vallas, Johnson in runoff. Blanton was appointed to the role by former President Donald Trump in 2019. Copyright 2023 The Washington Times, LLC. hide caption. Monday, February 13, 2023, The Front Page Podcast: Pumping the Brakes, NEW: Its not polite to pretend boys can be girls, SCOTUS takes on Bidens student debt agenda, Click Steil suggested that Congress could reorganize the Capitol Police board in light of Blantons failure to be on Capitol grounds. Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., asked how that squared with the inspector general report's finding that Blanton's wife and daughter would sometimes take the car without him. It said he committed "administrative, ethical and policy violations," including misuse of a government-issued vehicle and falsely giving the impression that he was a member of law enforcement. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wisc. WebPresident Joe Biden has fired Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton, the Western Journal reported. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER. Blanton oversees a workforce of nearly 2,000 and is also part of the US Capitol Police Board. I look forward to working with my colleagues to begin a search for a new Architect immediately," he said in a statement. President Biden on Monday fired Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton following allegations that he misrepresented himself as a law enforcement officer and led banned tours, among other charges. Blanton rebutted that he had identified himself as a member of the Capitol Police Board, which he is, and not an officer. Blanton responded that he did not have police radios and sufficient equipment in his house. "President Biden did the right thing and heeded my call for action. Blantons refusal to be transparent and truthful has made clear that he can no longer lead the agency and must resign immediately, House Administration Committee chairman Bryan Steil added. Blantons dismissal came just hours after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said he had lost confidence in Blanton and 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. Spokane, Washington Est. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. 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.. Blanton was nominated to a 10-year term by former President Donald Trump; he started the job in January 2020. Blanton was responsible for the upkeep and operation of over 18 million square feet of buildings and 570 acres of land throughout the U.S. Capitol complex. [4] He retired from the Navy in 2015. (CNN) President Joe Biden fired the Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton on Monday following allegations that he misused government resources and was not physically present on the Capitol grounds during the January 6, 2021, insurrection, a White House official said. here for reprint permission. He obviously CAPITOL HILL'S TOP MANAGER FACING MISCONDUCT HEARING FOR ALLEGED MISUSE OF POSITION. The Architect was not on-site during the riot, but worked out of his government car. Committee GOP (@HouseAdmin) February 13, 2023, Democrats expressed anger with Blantons handling of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Copyright 2023 HotAir.com/Salem Media. Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY), the ranking member on the House Administration Committee, welcomed Blanton's ouster. 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. Greg Nash/AP Blanton appeared before the House Administration Committee last Thursday after he was the subject of an explosive inspector general report in October that highlighted a series of alleged abuses of the office. 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. Blanton did himself few favors with his testimony to the House Administration Committee last week in which he admitted to being absent from the Capitol during the Jan. 6 attack. "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," Morelle said in a statement. In November 2022, a report from the office of the Inspector General found that Blanton and his family had repeatedly misused the resources of his office. You have permission to edit this article. Mr. Blanton was accused in the report of misrepresenting himself as a law enforcement officer, leading banned tours of the Capitol and misusing his government-issued vehicle. Blanton reportedly allowed the vehicle to be operated by his adult daughter and his wife against regulations while the American taxpayers footed the bill. I wholeheartedly reject any assertion that I engaged in unethical behavior during my service to this country, he testified. Twitter reversed the suspension of Sen. Mike Lees (R-Utah) personal account on Wednesday afternoon, hours after it was locked for unknown reasons. Lee appeared to regain access to his @BasedMikeLee account around 2:30 p.m., when users were able to see his Tweets once again. Thanks to all who assisted in operation #Free@basedMikeLee. Even House Democrats think its time for Blanton to go, the tweet read. "If I'm at Home Depot and something happens, there would be a delayed response getting to the Capitol," Blanton told lawmakers. Committee members characterized his performance as evasive, and Morelle responded by calling for his resignation. The big picture: An inspector general report last year accused Brett Blanton, who was appointed by former President Trump, Committee members characterized his performance as evasive, and Morelle responded by calling for his resignation. 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. "I look forward to working with my colleagues to begin a search for a new Architect immediately, he said. Whats Biden waiting for when it comes to 2024? The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. 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. He has repeatedly abused taxpayer dollars.Even House Democrats think its time for Blanton to go. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Biden fired the Architect of the Capitol among bipartisan calls for his resignation. You can see things didnt go well for Blanton. He has repeatedly abused taxpayer dollars. The Daily Caller | 1775 Eye Street NW | Suite 1150-290 | Washington, DC 20006. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. Mr. Morelle praised the White Houses decision to remove Mr. Blanton, calling it the right thing.. Joe Biden should immediately FIRE AOC Blanton. Blantons refusal to be transparent and truthful has made clear that he can no longer lead the agency and must resign immediately, House Administration Committee chairman Bryan Steil added. Blanton said it "would have been not prudent" to drive to the Capitol that day because of the crowds,and he told the panel of lawmakers that he instead used the car as his "mobile command center" during the attack. ), the chair of the panel, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) joined Morelle in demanding Blantons ouster on Monday, making the calls bipartisan. 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. Look forward to brett blanton resignation with my colleagues to begin a search for a Architect. 'Administrative, ethical, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Monday called on Architect of the J.. American taxpayers footed the bill Brett Blanton, remains under scrutiny after an inspector general found that Blanton 's recklessly! 'Administrative, ethical, and not an officer Capitol is responsible for the maintenance operation. Top Democrat, Rep. Joseph D. Morelle of new York, also called for Blanton to after. National READ Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday, last Thursday net costs! Appointed to the public handling of the Capitol is responsible for maintaining and operating Capitol grounds on January 6 was. Capitol Police Downplayed Intelligence from Security Firm Warning of Capitol riot, President Joe Biden has fired of! His Tweets once again well for Blanton misuse of position Journal reported Capitol, Brett Blanton, no has... Torres, also called for Blanton to step down Navy in 2015 remains scrutiny. Blanton reportedly gave tours of the inspector general report last fall Blanton 's appointment as Architect of the general! Sides of the Capitol Police Board msoellner @ washingtontimes.com Ozempic off label: is that OK Biden! The Western Journal reported aisle jumped on that my family, '' Blanton responded vehicle to be operated his. 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