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. Committee GOP (@HouseAdmin) February 13, 2023, Democrats expressed anger with Blantons handling of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Ill note that it appears that Rep. Morelle is taking credit for Blantons termination. In a statement Monday, Morelle praised Biden for doing "the right thing" by dismissing Blanton. The big picture: An inspector general report last year accused Brett Blanton, who was appointed by former President Trump, of abusing his authority. ", "I wholeheartedly reject any assertation that I've engaged in unethical behavior during my service to this country," Blanton said. "Offering private tours of the U.S. Capitol creates the appearance of impropriety and using a public position for private gain, which is a violation of AOC policy," the report said. 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." He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately, McCarthy said in a tweet on Monday. 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. During the pandemic, Blanton reportedly gave tours of the U.S. Capitol despite the official closure of the building to the public. He has repeatedly abused taxpayer dollars.Even House Democrats think its time for Blanton to go. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact. Morelle and ranking member Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA) on the House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight each called on Blanton to step down Thursday after the hearing. Shortly after McCarthys tweet, Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI), the chairman of the House Administration Committee, joined calls for Blanton's resignation. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre previously told reporters Monday that the administration was weighing its options. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. 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.. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER. Blanton defended his absence on Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021, because, he said, there were too many people on the grounds. ), the chair of the panel, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) Outrageous that you were not here.. 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.". The vehicle was driven for some 30,000 miles despite limitations to use for official work only. 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.". 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, he said. Whats Biden waiting for when it comes to 2024? There were aggressive calls for Blantons resignation immediately following the shocking violence that unfolded during the January 6, 2021 insurrection. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. Blanton rebutted that he had identified himself as a member of the Capitol Police Board, which he is, and not an officer. 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. "The Inspector Generals report was highly concerning," Steil said. "You would have to address that with members of my family," Blanton responded. Could you not have fulfilled the same function at home using a cell phone?," Morelle asked Blanton. The Senate Budget Committee held a hearing on the impact of climate change and sea level rise on coastal communities as lawmakers reach an impasse on addressing the problem. Doctors prescribe Ozempic off label: Is that OK? The Architect was not on-site during the riot, but worked out of his government car. 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. Did You Ever Wonder How and Why the Left Is Able to Push Their Narratives Almost Unhindered? Could you not have fulfilled the same function at home using a cell phone? Morelle asked Blanton. Joe Biden should immediately FIRE AOC Blanton. 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. He referred to it as "an alternate work site" and said having to switch vehicles would slow him down. Why a DC crime bill is creating big problems for, EPA proposal expected to expand sales of high-ethanol, House Republicans open investigation into role of, US intelligence: No evidence foreign adversaries, What to know about OKs recreational marijuana question, Oklahoma prepares for rec. President Joe Biden fired the Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton on Monday following allegations that he misused government resources and was not ", 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.. "The Inspector General's report was highly concerning, which is, in part, why our first hearing was dedicated to providing oversight over the AOC. Blanton was nominated to a 10-year term by former President Donald Trump; he started the job in January 2020. [1] He was sworn in on January 16, 2020.[7]. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately, Mr. McCarthy tweeted Monday. The Architect of the Capitol is responsible for maintaining and operating Capitol grounds, and sits on the Capitol Police Board. 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. 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. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. [4] He retired from the Navy in 2015. He obviously Biden ousted Brett Blanton, the previous capitol architect, earlier this month after an inspector generals report found that he misused his authority. Blanton responded that he did not have police radios and sufficient equipment in his house. 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. I think it may be, certainly of anyone with a position of power and a title. The pandemic popped San Francisco's progressive bubble, The cost of the Federal Reserve's 'full employment': Migrant child labor, Lori Lightfoot's next dancing TikTok video should be to "Bye Bye Bye", TikTok restricts teenager screen time as it faces threat of national ban, Lightfoot is out: Chicago mayor out four years after breaking onto scene as rising star, Republicans could force Bidens first veto with fights over ESG and DC crime law, Protesters thrown out of House China committee's first prime-time hearing. Even House Democrats think its time for Blanton to go, the tweet read. His explanation of being off campus during the day of Jan. 6 enraged some lawmakers. 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. WaPo: FBI resisted Mar-a-Lago raid, DoJ prosecutors demanded it. However, there surely are many more in the D.C. swamp doing what Blanton did without facing consequences. You have permission to edit this article. 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. Morelle called for Blantons resignation last week. [10] Congressional representatives called for Blanton to resign. [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". The report accused Blanton of ethics violations, abuse of government funds, and wasting taxpayer money. 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Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle jumped on that. Blanton could be removed only by the president because the architect of the Capitol is a presidential appointee confirmed by the Senate. Blanton reportedly allowed the vehicle to be operated by his adult daughter and his wife against regulations while the American taxpayers footed the bill. 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. The committees top Democrat, Rep. Joseph D. Morelle of New York, also called for Mr. Blanton to step down. - President Biden on Monday fired Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton following allegations that he misrepresented himself as a law enforcement [6] On December 12, 2019, the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration held a hearing on his nomination. "He should resign, or President Biden should remove him immediately," the California Republican added. Chairman Steil Calls on Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton to Resign pic.twitter.com/klFYGejkVv, House Admin. Mica Soellner can be reached at msoellner@washingtontimes.com. 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. All of those elements played into the January 6 riot on Capitol Hill. President Joe Biden has fired Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton, who was responsible for maintaining the U.S. Capitol, amid mounting allegations of ethics violations. Ranking member Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) was so unsatisfied by Blantons performance, he called for his resignation #FireBlanton https://t.co/Ijf1xNCsxY. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Moreover, I have fully invested to ensure that I meet the responsibilities and the expectations of this role.. Blanton was appointed by former President Donald Trump but has been accused of several infractions by both parties after a recent report. On December 16, 2019, the Committee reported his nomination favorably to the Senate floor. The job of the Capitol architect is to manage the massive landmark and its surrounding grounds. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Monday called on Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton to resign after damaging inspector general report last fall. 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. The inspector general was first alerted to these problems through a complaint on a hotline on March 7, 2021. 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. After recounting her experience of being stranded on a balcony during the insurrection, Democratic Rep. Norma Torres of California grew visibly frustrated. Frank Thorp V is a producer and off-air reporter covering Congress for NBC News, managing coverage of the Senate. Based on that behavior, Blanton has also been accused of giving the impression that he was in law enforcement. The Washington Times He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately. 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. [5], President Donald Trump nominated Blanton on December 9, 2019, for a ten-year term as Architect of the Capitol. 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. 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. You can see things didnt go well for Blanton. 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. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately, McCarthy. 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 Greg Nash/AP "President Biden did the right thing and heeded my call for action. The abuse of government property charge includes allowing special treatment for his family. Blanton was nominated by former President Trump to a 10-year term as Architect of the Capitol and was confirmed by the Senate in December 2019. I look forward to working with my colleagues to begin a search for a new Architect immediately," he said in a statement. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. All Rights Reserved. NBC News has asked Blanton's office for comment. The Capitols architect oversees the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the U.S. Capitol complex. He started the job of the Capitol Police Board, which he is, and not an.. 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