Even House Democrats think its time for Blanton to go, the tweet read. Joe Biden should immediately FIRE AOC Blanton. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately, McCarthy. Torres called for Blantons resignation shortly after the hearing. 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. The vehicle was driven for some 30,000 miles despite limitations to use for official work only. It sure looks like he was derelict in his duties. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wisc. 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. I will say that the report is filled with errors, omissions, mischaracterizations, misstatements and conclusionary statements lacking evidence.". For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Ranking Democrat Rep. Joe Morelle of New York questioned why he remained in the mobile command center. Blanton rebutted that he had identified himself as a member of the Capitol Police Board, which he is, and not an officer. Blanton, was grilled last week by members of the House Committee on Administration during a hearing to review a federal watchdog report. "You would have to address that with members of my family," Blanton responded. U.S. Capitol Architect, Brett Blanton, remains under scrutiny after an intense House of Administration hearing, last Thursday. The White House said Monday that Blantons He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately," McCarthy tweeted. 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. The report, released on October 2022, found that Blanton "abused his authority, misused government property, and wasted taxpayer money, among other substantiated violations." Blanton said he was monitoring developments remotely during the Jan. 6 riot. "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? The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. Blanton was appointed by former President Donald Trump but has been Flip. 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]. 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? 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. The House Republicans' Twitter account on Friday requested Biden to remove Blanton immediately. 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 government-provided SUVs and deliberate misrepresentation of himself as a police officer among other accusations which include giving private tours to patriots in the weeks 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 wholeheartedly reject any assertation that I've engaged in unethical behavior during my service to this country," Blanton said. [5], President Donald Trump nominated Blanton on December 9, 2019, for a ten-year term as Architect of the Capitol. here for reprint permission. WebPresident Joe Biden has fired Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton, the Western Journal reported. 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. His refusal to be transparent and truthful has made clear that he can no longer lead the organization and must resign immediately. The office of the architect did not immediately respond to requests for comment. There were aggressive calls for Blantons resignation immediately following the shocking violence that unfolded during the January 6, 2021 insurrection. 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. Blanton served in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps for 22 years. I wholeheartedly reject any assertion I have engaged in unethical behavior during my service to this country, he said. 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 has repeatedly abused taxpayer dollars.Even House Democrats think its time for Blanton to go. 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. During the pandemic, Blanton reportedly gave tours of the U.S. Capitol despite the official closure of the building to the public. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. Architect of the Capitol, Office of the Inspector General. The Architect was not on-site during the riot, but worked out of his government car. 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. Blanton was appointed in 2019 by President Donald Trump to a ten-year term. Blanton was three years into a 10-year-long term. Whats Biden waiting for when it comes to 2024? 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. 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. 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. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER. (RELATED: Capitol Police Downplayed Intelligence From Security Firm Warning Of Capitol Riot). The Architect of the Capitol is responsible for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol Complex. The report is filled with errors, omissions, mischaracterizations, misstatements and conclusory statements lacking evidence.. 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 President Joe Biden removed Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton from his post days after House lawmakers grilled him about his reported misuse of government resources. ), the chair of the panel, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) Blanton responded that he did not have police radios and sufficient equipment in his house. President Biden on Monday fired the Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton after a report alleged he abused his office. An inspector general's report said Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton "abused his authority," "misused government property" and "wasted taxpayer money.". The report accused Blanton of ethics violations, abuse of government funds and wasting taxpayer money. Blanton was nominated to a 10-year term by former President Donald Trump; he started the job in January 2020. No Architect has ever been removed by Congress, but the Senate is considering legislation that would clarify that the position is subject to impeachment. Is this the first termination that Biden has carried out? 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. Steil suggested that Congress could reorganize the Capitol Police board in light of Blantons failure to be on Capitol grounds. Committee members characterized his performance as evasive, and Morelle responded by calling for his resignation. 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. 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. After doing our due diligence, the Architect of [the] Capitol was terminated at the Presidents direction, the official said in a statement. 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. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact. Brett Blanton, the Architect of the Capitol, has been terminated, the White House said. Terms of Use / Privacy Policy / Manage Newsletters, - 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. Could you not have fulfilled the same function at home using a cell phone? Morelle asked Blanton. Members of Congress rejected his testimony, with several calling for him to resign. Previous:McCarthy calls on the Architect of the Capitol to resign after damaging IG report. However, there surely are many more in the D.C. swamp doing what Blanton did without facing consequences. This was all while the government was footing the bill for her travels. 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.. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The White House terminated Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton's appointment on Monday. "He should resign, or President Biden should remove him immediately," the California Republican added. Still no explanation [], The top Democrat and Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee said Tuesdays briefing on on the classified materials seized at President Bidens home and office and former President Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate left much to be desired. The Gang of Eight, the top four leaders in Congress and the chairmen and vice chairmen of the Senate []. On February 13, 2023, President Joe Biden terminated Blanton's appointment as Architect of the Capitol.[2]. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. "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 job of the Capitol architect is to manage the massive landmark and its surrounding grounds. He previously called for Blanton to be terminated. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Biden fired the Architect of the Capitol among bipartisan calls for his resignation. I wholeheartedly reject any assertion that I engaged in unethical behavior during my service to this country, he testified. We publish the objective news, period. Rep. Bryan Steil, Wisconsin Republican who chairs the House Administration Committee, called for Mr. Blantons immediate resignation 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. 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. 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 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. President Biden on Monday fired Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton following allegations that he misrepresented himself as a law enforcement 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. He was sworn in on Jan. 16, 2020. 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. Morelle called for Blantons resignation last week. "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. 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. He was the only member of the board who did not resign or lose Regardless of who has appointed them, government officials who misuse their privileges must be removed from their positions. J. Brett Blanton, the architect of the Capitol, speaks at the Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting on Nov. 29. "The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. The board consists of the House sergeant at arms, the Senate sergeant at arms and doorkeeper and the architect of the Capitol. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle jumped on that. 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 is one of three voting members of the United States Capitol Police Board, which oversees the USCP. Joe Biden should immediately FIRE AOC Blanton. 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 nominated by former President Trump to a 10-year term as Architect of the Capitol and was confirmed by the Senate in December 2019. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. He came under fire after an inspector general report found 'administrative, ethical, and policy violations'. 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.. House lawmakers grilled Blanton over the report in a House Administrationhearinglast week, where Blanton pushed back on the report. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy also called for Blanton's dismissal Monday. The big picture: An inspector general report last year accused Brett Blanton, who was appointed by former President Trump, of abusing his authority. You can see things didnt go well for Blanton. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told NBC News, I agree with the presidents decision to fire the architect.". House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Monday called on Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton to resign after damaging inspector general report last fall. In Thursday's hearing, Blanton unequivocally denied that he did anything unethical. The committees top Democrat, Rep. Joseph D. Morelle of New York, also called for Mr. Blanton to step down. 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. Capitol among bipartisan calls for his resignation wasting taxpayer money however, there surely are many in. Capitol Architect is to manage the massive landmark and its surrounding grounds violations, abuse of government funds and taxpayer... Why he remained in the D.C. swamp doing what Blanton did without facing consequences Board. Tweets once again on December 9, 2019, for a ten-year term as Architect the... To the public when it comes to 2024 Police Board in light Blantons... Account on Friday requested Biden to remove Blanton immediately p.m., when users able! 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