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The committee hearing was to review an inspector general report. I wholeheartedly reject any assertion that I engaged in unethical behavior during my service to this country, he testified. 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. 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. 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. The inspector general found that Blanton's wife made "multiple social media posts" about the tours. You can see things didnt go well for Blanton. 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 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]. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wisc. J. Brett Blanton, the Architect of the Capitol, was grilled by House Committee on Administration members last week. 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. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle jumped on that. Joe Biden should immediately FIRE AOC Blanton. President Joe Biden has fired Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton, the Western Journal reported. 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. No Architect has ever been removed by Congress, but the Senate is considering legislation that would clarify that the position is subject to impeachment. "I look forward to working with my colleagues to begin a search for a new Architect immediately, he said. 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 Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job," House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tweeted Monday. "We take the IG report seriously and the request from members of Congress seriously as well and are evaluating next steps," she said. The White House said Monday that Blantons He wasnt able to drive there. Blanton was nominated to a 10-year term by former President Donald Trump; he started the job in January 2020. Mr. Morelle praised the White Houses decision to remove Mr. Blanton, calling it the right thing.. His responsibilities include overseeing the Capitol's property management and operations. 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. Could you not have fulfilled the same function at home using a cell phone? Morelle asked Blanton. 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 architect of the Capitol is tasked with maintaining and operating Capitol grounds, according to AOC.gov. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy also called for Blanton's dismissal Monday. He has repeatedly abused taxpayer dollars.Even House Democrats think its time for Blanton to go. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact. Previous:McCarthy calls on the Architect of the Capitol to resign after damaging IG report. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre previously told reporters Monday that the administration was weighing its options. 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. Following the reports release, six Democrats who chair committees that oversee the AOC called for Blantons removal, explaining that, Based on the [5], President Donald Trump nominated Blanton on December 9, 2019, for a ten-year term as Architect of the Capitol. Frank Thorp V is a producer and off-air reporter covering Congress for NBC News, managing coverage of the Senate. Blanton could be removed only by the president because the architect of the Capitol is a presidential appointee confirmed by the Senate. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Monday called on Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton to resign after damaging inspector general report last fall. Blanton was dismissed months after an inspector generals report substantiated claims that he had abused his authority. The Architect of the Capitol is responsible for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol Complex. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. CAPITOL HILL'S TOP MANAGER FACING MISCONDUCT HEARING FOR ALLEGED MISUSE OF POSITION The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no "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 previously called for Blanton to be terminated. During the pandemic, Blanton reportedly gave tours of the U.S. Capitol despite the official closure of the building to the public. 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 think it may be, certainly of anyone with a position of power and a title. [1] He was sworn in on January 16, 2020.[7]. Brett Blanton, the Architect of the Capitol, has been terminated, the White House said. Morelle also pressed him about why he didn't use the car to go to the Capitol on Jan. 6, the "greatest emergency the Capitol has faced in the last two centuries.". The board consists of the House sergeant at arms, the Senate sergeant at arms and doorkeeper and the architect of the Capitol. Blanton also stated that on January 6 he was using his official vehicle as the Architect of the Capitol's mobile command post. 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. Blanton is one of three voting members of the United States Capitol Police Board, which oversees the USCP. 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.". "After doing our due diligence, the Architect of Capitol was terminated at the President's direction," the White House official said. "You would have to address that with members of my family," Blanton responded. The job of the Capitol architect is to manage the massive landmark and its surrounding grounds. 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. Dareh Gregorian is a politics reporter for NBC News. An inspector general report released in October found that Blanton and his family had misused Architect of the This was all while the government was footing the bill for her travels. The office of the architect did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 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. "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. [6] On December 12, 2019, the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration held a hearing on his nomination. The Republican chairman of the committee, Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, called for Blantons resignation after he engaged in an exchange with him. 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. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. 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. Democratic New York Rep. Joe Morelle, ranking member of the House Administration Committee, confirmed the firing in a statement. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R Blanton responded that he did not have police radios and sufficient equipment in his house. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. "The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. Copyright 2023 HotAir.com/Salem Media. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. 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.. Never use the company vehicle for personal business. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately. House lawmakers grilled Blanton over the report in a House Administrationhearinglast week, where Blanton pushed back on the report. The inspector general was first alerted to these problems through a complaint on a hotline on March 7, 2021. In the fall, an inspector general report accused Blanton of abuse of government property and wasting taxpayer dollars by allowing his family to drive a government-owned vehicle and taking the vehicle on out-of-town trips to South Carolina and Florida, according to the report. Dear President Biden: War in Ukraine isnt just about Ukraine, There can be no genuine budget discipline without entitlement reform, Two birds, one stone: 1619 Project vindicates capitalism. Morelle, ranking member of the Capitol j. Brett Blanton, no has! By former president Donald Trump ; he started the job in January 2020. [ 7.. And Administration held a hearing on his nomination calls on the Architect of the 's... Country, he said for the maintenance, operation, development, preservation. Blanton to resign after damaging IG report complaint on a hotline on 7! 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