I wholeheartedly reject any assertion I have engaged in unethical behavior during my service to this country, he said. The big picture: An inspector general report last year accused Brett Blanton, who was appointed by former President Trump, of abusing his authority. President Biden did the right thing and heeded my call for action. He has repeatedly abused taxpayer dollars.Even House Democrats think its time for Blanton to go. He should resign or President Biden should remove him Blanton was nominated to a 10-year term by former President Donald Trump; he started the job in January 2020. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. here for reprint permission. I wholeheartedly reject any assertion that I engaged in unethical behavior during my service to this country, Blanton said in the hearing. The Washington Times The inspector general was first alerted to these problems through a complaint on a hotline on March 7, 2021. The Architect of the Capitol is one of three members of the board that oversees the Capitol Police, along with the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms. [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". Whats Biden waiting for when it comes to 2024? J. Brett Blanton, the Architect of the Capitol, was grilled by House Committee on Administration members last week. "His refusal to be transparent and truthful has made clear that he can no longer lead the organization and must resign immediately.". I think it may be, certainly of anyone with a position of power and a title. 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.". Click The Architect was not on-site during the riot, but worked out of his government car. 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. Biden terminated Blanton after bipartisan calls for his firing or resignation were sounded by members of Congress, including Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Monday. He was nominated by Trump on Dec. 9, 2019. Ranking member Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) was so unsatisfied by Blantons performance, he called for his resignation #FireBlanton https://t.co/Ijf1xNCsxY. Blanton responded that he did not have police radios and sufficient equipment in his house. "After doing our due diligence, the Architect of Capitol was terminated at the President's direction," the White House official said. Architect of the Capitol, Office of the Inspector General. House lawmakers grilled Blanton over the report in a House Administrationhearinglast week, where Blanton pushed back on the report. Last week, he was pressed about those findings and other issues, such as his absence from the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, as he was testifying before the House Administration Committee. Maybe Morelle forgot that Democrats lost control of the House. Blanton was dismissed months after an inspector generals report substantiated claims that he had abused his authority. He was the only member of the board who did not resign or lose [1] He was sworn in on January 16, 2020.[7]. In his opening statement, Blanton told the committee that he was "frustrated" with the OIG's report, which he said follows what he called a "predetermined" narrative based on what he considers "picked facts. The White House terminated Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton's appointment on Monday. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Why? [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]. On December 16, 2019, the Committee reported his nomination favorably to the Senate floor. After recounting her experience of being stranded on a balcony during the insurrection, Democratic Rep. Norma Torres of California grew visibly frustrated. Updated February 13, 2023 at 7:24 PM ET. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately. President Biden on Monday fired Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton following allegations that he misrepresented himself as a law enforcement President Joe Biden fired the Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton on Monday following allegations that he misused government resources and was not Blanton also stated that on January 6 he was using his official vehicle as the Architect of the Capitol's mobile command post. 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. He came under fire after an inspector general report found 'administrative, ethical, and policy violations'. A White House official confirmed the decision, telling Axios: [A]fter doing our due diligence, the Architect of Capitol was terminated at the president's direction.. 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. In another instance, he called himself an "agent" after he got in an accident at a brewery while using the vehicle on vacation, the report found. "Moreover, I have fully invested to ensure that I meet the responsibilities and the expectations of this role.". In Thursday's hearing, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle jumped on learning that Blanton was not physically present on Capitol grounds on the day of the insurrection, January 6, 2021. The vehicle was driven for some 30,000 miles despite limitations to use for official work only. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images. After all this, House Administration Committee Chairman Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) called for Blanton's resignation. 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 Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. Moreover, I have fully invested to ensure that I meet the responsibilities and the expectations of this role.. Morelle called for Blantons resignation last week. An inspector general's report said Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton "abused his authority," "misused government property" and "wasted taxpayer money.". 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. During the pandemic, Blanton reportedly gave tours of the U.S. Capitol despite the official closure of the building to the public. 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.. 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. Doctors prescribe Ozempic off label: Is that OK? We publish the objective news, period. 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, Mr. Morelle said in a statement. The backdrop: The report found that Blanton serially misused government-issued vehicles for personal trips, and falsely identified himself as a law enforcement officer. Blanton was appointed to the role by former President Donald Trump in 2019. Blanton is one of three voting members of the United States Capitol Police Board, which oversees the USCP. 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. Spokane, Washington Est. 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. 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. Following the reports release, six Democrats who chair committees that oversee the AOC called for Blantons removal, explaining that, Based on the "We took a look at the whole situation, having dealt with this guy for a while, and I think the president made the right decision, he said. 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. 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. 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. I look forward to working with my colleagues to begin a search for a new Architect immediately.. Brett Blanton, the Architect of the Capitol, has been terminated, the White House said. The report is filled with errors, omissions, mischaracterizations, misstatements and conclusory statements lacking evidence.. Is this the first termination that Biden has carried out? The complaint said that the black SUV's driver was "extremely reckless in the parking garage and swerving out of the garage at a high rate of speed, estimated to be about 65 miles per hour in a 30-mph zone.". here for reprint permission. All Rights Reserved. Mr. Blanton's incompetency is a danger to his office, and I join @RepJoeMorelle to call for his immediate resignation," Torres tweeted. Could you not have fulfilled the same function at home using a cell phone? Morelle asked Blanton. "The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job," House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tweeted Monday. The job of the Capitol architect is to manage the massive landmark and its surrounding grounds. Blanton was "If I'm at Home Depot and something happens, there would be a delayed response getting to the Capitol," Blanton told lawmakers. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately," McCarthy tweeted. President Biden on Monday fired the Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton after a report alleged he abused his office. R-Wisconsin, also called on Blanton to immediately resign. 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. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. Blanton reportedly allowed the vehicle to be operated by his adult daughter and his wife against regulations while the American taxpayers footed the bill. Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton was fired by President Biden Monday for a series of ethical violations, including his not being present on the grounds during the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. - 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. 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. NPR's Scott Detrow contributed to this report. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately, McCarthy. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. Blanton told committee members at last Thursday's hearing that he was "directing AOC personnel" from his government vehicle, which he said served as "AOC's mobile command post," during the riot but not on the Capitol grounds. "I am outraged that you would be in a comfortable place while the rest of us were thinking about dying that day and how we were going to come out alive that day, outrageous that you were not here," she said. 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. Blantons dismissal came just hours after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said he had lost confidence in Blanton and 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 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. He referred to it as "an alternate work site" and said having to switch vehicles would slow him down. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wisc. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER. Blanton denied wrongdoing in a Feb. 9 hearing. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Blanton was appointed by former President Donald Trump but has been accused of several infractions by both parties after a recent report. 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