Blanton was appointed by former President Donald Trump but has been President Biden on Monday fired Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton following allegations that he misrepresented himself as a law enforcement 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. 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 agencys culture to promote a positive workplace for every AOC employee, Blanton said. here for reprint permission. A White House official told CNN that Biden terminated Blanton on Monday following bipartisan calls for his resignation, echoed that day by House Speaker Kevin "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 that's attached to it? Calls for Mr. Blantons resignation grew since a contentious House hearing last week on the allegations of mismanagement highlighted in an October inspector generals report. Why? However, there surely are many more in the D.C. swamp doing what Blanton did without facing consequences. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. Biden terminated Blanton after bipartisan calls for his firing or resignation were sounded by members of Congress, including Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Monday. 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. Calls for Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blantons ouster or resignation are getting louder in the wake of a fiery House Administration hearing earlier this week. Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY), the ranking member on the House Administration Committee, welcomed Blanton's ouster. The big picture: An inspector general report last year accused Brett Blanton, who was appointed by former President Trump, of abusing his authority. Sign up now to get the Washington Examiners breaking news and timely commentary delivered right to your inbox. "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. 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. "I look forward to working with my colleagues to begin a search for a new Architect immediately, he said. The inspector general was first alerted to these problems through a complaint on a hotline on March 7, 2021. 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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. 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. Blantons dismissal came just hours after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said he had lost confidence in Blanton and He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately. "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. This was all while the government was footing the bill for her travels. He was sworn in on Jan. 16, 2020. After doing our due diligence, the Architect of [the] Capitol was terminated at the Presidents direction, the official said in a statement. Wisconsin Rep. Bryan Steil, the Republican heading the committee, asked if Blanton had impersonated a law enforcement officer, as alleged in the report. Democratic lawmakers are calling for the resignation of J. Brett Blanton, the architect of the Capitol, over a scathing federal watchdog report that found he abused his President Biden did the right thing and heeded my call for action. Chairman Steil Calls on Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton to Resign pic.twitter.com/klFYGejkVv, House Admin. WebPresident Joe Biden has fired Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton, the Western Journal reported. Other members, including the ranking Democrat, Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, jumped on the admission by Blanton to question why he remained in the "mobile command center.". 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. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately," McCarthy tweeted. 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 In a statement Monday, Morelle praised Biden for doing "the right thing" by dismissing Blanton. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle jumped on that. Could you not have fulfilled the same function at home using a cell phone?," Morelle asked Blanton. Outrageous that you were not here.. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) called for the Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton to step down or be removed by President Biden, adding to bipartisan outrage over an inspector general report that found he misused a government vehicle and allegedly impersonated a law enforcement officer, among other ethics issues. Rep. Gregory Murphy (R-N.C.) took issue with the Architect of the Capitols office having a telework policy, though Blanton said he is now going to the Capitol effectively every day of the week., It absolutely blows me away, Murphy said, why Blanton as Architect of the Capitol Architect of the Capitol why you are not here physically every day, all day.. Copyright 2023 The Washington Times, LLC. NPR's Scott Detrow contributed to this report. hide caption. 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. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately, the speaker tweeted Monday. House lawmakers grilled Blanton over the report in a House Administrationhearinglast week, where Blanton pushed back on the report. I look forward to working with my colleagues to begin a search for a new architect immediately, Morelle said. Republican members on the panel were infuriated when Blanton, who was appointed in 2019 and was in charge of the Capitol's security, cited pandemic work-from-home policies when asked why he was not on site the morning of Jan. 6. The investigation was prompted by a tip about Blanton's daughter recklessly driving an AOC Ford Explorer at a Walmart in Tyson's Corner. The Architect of the Capitol is responsible for maintaining and operating Capitol grounds, and sits on the Capitol Police Board. The responsibilities of his job include overseeing the Capitols property management and operations, and as one of three board members, he oversees the U.S. Capitol Police. 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. Torres called for Blantons resignation shortly after the hearing. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. There were aggressive calls for Blantons resignation immediately following the shocking violence that unfolded during the January 6, 2021 insurrection. After recounting her experience of being stranded on a balcony during the insurrection, Democratic Rep. Norma Torres of California grew visibly frustrated. Democratic New York Rep. Joe Morelle, ranking member of the House Administration Committee, confirmed the firing in a statement. "The Inspector Generals report was highly concerning," Steil said. He has repeatedly abused taxpayer dollars. Steil suggested that Congress could reorganize the Capitol Police board in light of Blantons failure to be on Capitol grounds. Blanton was appointed in 2019 by President Donald Trump to a ten-year term. 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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 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. Committee members characterized his performance as evasive, and Morelle responded by calling for his resignation. 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. Blanton was appointed to the role by former President Donald Trump in 2019. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre previously told reporters Monday that the administration was weighing its options. Blanton was the only member of the Capitol Police Board who still had a job after the Jan. 6 riot. Meanwhile, the inspector general's report said Blanton's adult child called it "free gas" for her. By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: American Digest, 3000 S. Hulen Street, Ste 124 #1064, Fort Worth, TX, 76109, US, https://americandigest.com. During the pandemic, Blanton reportedly gave tours of the U.S. Capitol despite the official closure of the building to the public. The result was mixed, Majority of voters, plurality of Democrats say Biden is too old to run again, *Gulp* Finland is building a wall on Russia's border, Maher on CNN: If its Biden against Trump, Biden will win thats a good bet", George Santos' CNN Response Is a Master Troll Move, Biden owns border critics with chuckling reminder this mom's sons died of fentanyl overdoses in 2020, Shock Report: FBI Agents Did Not Want to Raid Mar-a-Lago. "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. 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.. Last year, a handful of lawmakers called for Blantons resignation, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the head of the Rules Committee, and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), who led the Administration Committee at the time. 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. The Capitols architect oversees the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the U.S. Capitol complex. Could you not have fulfilled the same function at home using a cell phone? Morelle asked Blanton. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Spokane, Washington Est. His responsibilities include overseeing the Capitol's property management and operations. The vehicle was driven for some 30,000 miles despite limitations to use for official work only. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. 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. 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. CAPITOL HILL'S TOP MANAGER FACING MISCONDUCT HEARING FOR ALLEGED MISUSE OF POSITION The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no The Biden administration on Monday "terminated" the Architect of the Capitol, the White House confirmed. 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. Please show us the Experts Clause of the Constitution, Justices Sotomayor and Kagan, Jon Stewart to the Left, media: Told you so about the lab leak, St. Louis newspaper publishes response to gender clinic worker's story. Blanton reportedly allowed the vehicle to be operated by his adult daughter and his wife against regulations while the American taxpayers footed the bill. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Biden fired the Architect of the Capitol among bipartisan calls for his resignation. President Biden did the right thing and heeded my call for action. 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. 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. "He should resign, or President Biden should remove him immediately," the California Republican added. I look forward to working with my colleagues to begin a search for a new Architect immediately.. Committee GOP (@HouseAdmin) February 13, 2023, Democrats expressed anger with Blantons handling of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately. ", "I wholeheartedly reject any assertation that I've engaged in unethical behavior during my service to this country," Blanton said. Ranking member Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) was so unsatisfied by Blantons performance, he called for his resignation #FireBlanton https://t.co/Ijf1xNCsxY. The board and its structure, as well as its ability to quickly authorize outside assistance during emergencies, came under scrutiny after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. 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.". On December 16, 2019, the Committee reported his nomination favorably to the Senate floor. [6] On December 12, 2019, the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration held a hearing on his nomination. 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. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately, McCarthy tweeted Monday. Based on that behavior, Blanton has also been accused of giving the impression that he was in law enforcement. Previous:McCarthy calls on the Architect of the Capitol to resign after damaging IG report. 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. "Moreover, I have fully invested to ensure that I meet the responsibilities and the expectations of this role.". CNN President Joe Biden fired Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton on Monday following allegations that he misused government resources and was not Blanton was appointed by former President Donald Trump and remained in the job when Biden came into office. Eli Lilly caps insulin costs at $35 per month, Shooting survivors American Idol tryout draws, Starbucks olive oil drinks a curiosity in Italy, Mansion shown on fire in listing pics gets new owner, Trooper rescues, adopts injured kitten on highway, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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 should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately, Mr. McCarthy tweeted Monday. 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. Brett Blanton, the Architect of the Capitol, has been terminated, the White House said. Even House Democrats think its time for Blanton to go, the tweet read. The office of the architect did not immediately respond to requests for comment. On December 19, 2019, the full Senate confirmed his nomination by voice vote. R-Wisconsin, also called on Blanton to immediately resign. Moreover, I have fully invested to ensure that I meet the responsibilities and the expectations of this role.. 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. WebPresident Joe Biden has fired Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton, the Western Journal reported. [4] He retired from the Navy in 2015. 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. No Architect has ever been removed by Congress, but the Senate is considering legislation that would clarify that the position is subject to impeachment. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. $12,434 in unreported, taxable noncash fringe benefits. Blanton also allegedly misrepresented himself as a law enforcement official. The abuse of government property charge includes allowing special treatment for his family. Ranking Democrat Rep. Joe Morelle of New York questioned why he remained in the mobile command center. 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. On February 13, 2023, President Joe Biden terminated Blanton's appointment as Architect of the Capitol.[2]. After all this, House Administration Committee Chairman Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) called for Blanton's resignation. ", 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.. You can see things didnt go well for Blanton. It sure looks like he was derelict in his duties. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. All Rights Reserved. Some experts believe Congress has the authority to impeach Blanton, but others, including Steil, believe his ouster would require executive action since the Capitol architect is a position appointed by the president. "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. Blanton also stated that on January 6 he was using his official vehicle as the Architect of the Capitol's mobile command post. "The Inspector General's report was highly concerning, which is, in part, why our first hearing was dedicated to providing oversight over the AOC. here for reprint permission. 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. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. He said he was using his official vehicle at the mobile command post. ), the chair of the panel, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) "Blanton told the other party involved that it was a government vehicle, he was an 'agent' and he did not have insurance information because the government would handle the insurance claim," according to the report. The driver turned out to be Blanton's daughter, who also "made obscene gestures toward" the complainant "while at the stop sign outside the parking garage." 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 architect of the Capitol is tasked with maintaining and operating Capitol grounds, according to AOC.gov. He was nominated by Trump on Dec. 9, 2019. The job of the Capitol architect is to manage the massive landmark and its surrounding grounds. CAPITOL HILL'S TOP MANAGER FACING MISCONDUCT HEARING FOR ALLEGED MISUSE OF POSITION. He then served as Deputy Vice President for Engineering at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority which operates the Reagan National and Dulles International Airports. I wholeheartedly reject any assertion that I engaged in unethical behavior during my service to this country, Blanton said in the hearing. The Inspector Generals report was highly concerning, Steil said. Blanton responded that he did not have police radios and sufficient equipment in his house. 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 I will say that the report is filled with errors, omissions, mischaracterizations, misstatements and conclusionary statements lacking evidence.".