The AOC IG report also details a minor accident involving Blanton at a Virginia brewery involving another driver who backed into the government SUV while it was improperly parked. He has repeatedly abused taxpayer dollars. 2023 - The American Digest - All Rights Reserved, Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton fired by Joe Biden after Kevin McCarthy demanded resignation, Watchdog group finds Capitol Police and FBI ignored "credible threats" prior to Jan. 6th riot at the Capitol, Elizabeth Warren's CFPB to have fate determined by Supreme Court, Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announces resignation from the Biden administration, Up to 14 million will lose Medicaid coverage over next 12 months, After leaving the GOP,87-year-old New Jersey state senator abandons his reelection bid, Ted Cruz says Dr. Fauci will be responsible for future pandemic deaths, Don Lemon removed from key hosting role by CNN after Haley remarks. "The Inspector Generals report was highly concerning," Steil said. The report also said Blanton mischaracterized his government position, at one point chasing down a vehicle that was described as having been involved in a hit-and-run and misrepresenting himself as a law enforcement official. [8] Multiple instances of the Blanton family misusing government cars for personal use were documented in the report, which also documented how Blanton's wife gave unauthorized tours of the U.S. Capitol and that Blanton misrepresented himself as a police officer. Action-backed rhetoric fuels uncandidate DeSantis' launch strategy, I asked ChatGPT to invent a new cocktail. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately, McCarthy said in a tweet on Monday. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. 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. Blanton was the only member of the Capitol Police Board who still had a job after the Jan. 6 riot. Blanton rebutted that he had identified himself as a member of the Capitol Police Board, which he is, and not an officer. 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. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Blanton was appointed by former President Donald Trump but has been Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told NBC News, I agree with the presidents decision to fire the architect.". California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Biden fired the Architect of the Capitol among bipartisan calls for his resignation. "You would have to address that with members of my family," Blanton responded. 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. After doing our due diligence, the Architect of [the] Capitol was terminated at the Presidents direction, the official said in a statement. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle jumped on that. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately, McCarthy tweeted Monday. Blanton was 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 In a statement Monday, Morelle praised Biden for doing "the right thing" by dismissing Blanton. The House Republicans' Twitter account on Friday requested Biden to remove Blanton immediately. CAPITOL HILL'S TOP MANAGER FACING MISCONDUCT HEARING FOR ALLEGED MISUSE OF POSITION. 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. J. Brett Blanton, the architect of the Capitol, speaks at the Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting on Nov. 29. Blanton could be removed only by the president because the architect of the Capitol is a presidential appointee confirmed by the Senate. The investigation was prompted by a tip about Blanton's daughter recklessly driving an AOC Ford Explorer at a Walmart in Tyson's Corner. Committee members characterized his performance as evasive, and Morelle responded by calling for his resignation. Whats Biden waiting for when it comes to 2024? I look forward to working with my colleagues to begin a search for a new Architect immediately," he said in a statement. 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, the speaker tweeted Monday. The abuse of government property charge includes allowing special treatment for his family. 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.". President Biden on Monday fired the Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton after a report alleged he abused his office. "President Biden did the right thing and heeded my call for action. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R At the hearing, Blanton said he was frustrated by the current distraction created by the inspector generals report.. Ranking member Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) was so unsatisfied by Blantons performance, he called for his resignation #FireBlanton https://t.co/Ijf1xNCsxY. The committee hearing was to review an inspector general report. The board consists of the House sergeant at arms, the Senate sergeant at arms and doorkeeper and the architect of the Capitol. 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. 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. President Joe Biden has fired Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton, the Western Journal reported. President Biden did the right thing and heeded my call for action. There were aggressive calls for Blantons resignation immediately following the shocking violence that unfolded during the January 6, 2021 insurrection. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately, McCarthy tweeted Monday. McCarthy joins House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) and ranking member Joseph Morelle (D-N.Y.) in calling for the resignation of the Architect of the Capitol, who oversees the Capitol complexs building maintenance, preservation and development. Never use the company vehicle for personal business. The Architect was not on-site during the riot, but worked out of his government car. 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. I will say that the report is filled with errors, omissions, mischaracterizations, misstatements and conclusionary statements lacking evidence.". The White House fired Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton on Monday following complaints from a bipartisan group of Congress-members and the threat of impeachment. The Biden administration on Monday "terminated" the Architect of the Capitol, the White House confirmed. ), the chair of the panel, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. An inspector general's report said Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton "abused his authority," "misused government property" and "wasted taxpayer money.". In Thursday's hearing, Blanton unequivocally denied that he did anything unethical. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER. Committee GOP (@HouseAdmin) February 13, 2023, Democrats expressed anger with Blantons handling of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The job of the Capitol architect is to manage the massive landmark and its surrounding grounds. Steil suggested that Congress could reorganize the Capitol Police board in light of Blantons failure to be on Capitol grounds. 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. Mica Soellner can be reached at msoellner@washingtontimes.com. 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. "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. 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. 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. On December 16, 2019, the Committee reported his nomination favorably to the Senate floor. 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? However, a report from the Office of the Inspector General uncovered several troubling things about Blanton that have led to calls for President Joe Biden to remove him. Greg Nash/AP 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 []. Blanton was appointed in 2019 by President Donald Trump to a ten-year term. 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. CNN has reached out to the office of the Architect of the Capitol for response to McCarthy's call for Blanton's resignation. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Monday called on Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton to resign after damaging inspector general report last fall. Morelle called for Blantons resignation last week. Chairman Steil Calls on Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton to Resign pic.twitter.com/klFYGejkVv, House Admin. 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. R-Wisconsin, also called on Blanton to immediately resign. The vehicle was driven for some 30,000 miles despite limitations to use for official work only. He came under fire after an inspector general report found 'administrative, ethical, and policy violations'. Blanton said he was monitoring developments remotely during the Jan. 6 riot. Mr. Blanton's incompetency is a danger to his office, and I join @RepJoeMorelle to call for his immediate resignation," Torres tweeted. He should resign or President Biden should remove him An inspector general report released in October found that Blanton and his family had misused Architect of the Ranking Democrat Rep. Joe Morelle of New York questioned why he remained in the mobile command center. I wholeheartedly reject any assertion that I engaged in unethical behavior during my service to this country, he testified. [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". CAPITOL HILL'S TOP MANAGER FACING MISCONDUCT HEARING FOR ALLEGED MISUSE OF POSITION The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no Could you not have fulfilled the same function at home using a cell phone?," Morelle asked Blanton. President Biden on Monday fired Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton following allegations that he misrepresented himself as a law enforcement There were some $13,926.56 in costs attributed to the Ford Explorer. The Architect of the Capitol is responsible for maintaining and operating Capitol grounds, and sits on the Capitol Police Board. His responsibilities include overseeing the Capitol's property management and operations. 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 I look forward to working with my colleagues to begin a search for a new architect immediately, Morelle said. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately, Mr. McCarthy tweeted Monday. 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. Blanton was nominated to a 10-year term by former President Donald Trump; he started the job in January 2020. 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. However, there surely are many more in the D.C. swamp doing what Blanton did without facing consequences. "All PATRIOTS welcome," one of her posts proclaimed. 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. 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. 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.". "His refusal to be transparent and truthful has made clear that he can no longer lead the organization and must resign immediately.". Blanton oversees a workforce of nearly 2,000 and is also part of the US Capitol Police Board. Outrageous that you were not here.. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe link, found at the bottom of every email. The Inspector Generals report was highly concerning, Steil said. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. 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. The report noted that there was no official violation, but that these tours were not a good look. 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.. 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 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. [1] He was sworn in on January 16, 2020.[7]. [3] Blanton is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Civil Engineering and a Certified Energy Manager. 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. 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. 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 federal watchdog also accused Blanton, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, of ethics violations over an offer to provide tours to patriots weeks before the November 2020 election. 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. 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. CNN President Joe Biden fired Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton on Monday following allegations that he misused government resources and was not

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