brett blanton resignation

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. Could you not have fulfilled the same function at home using a cell phone? Morelle asked Blanton. 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. The abuse of government property charge includes allowing special treatment for his family. ), the chair of the panel, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) 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 think it may be, certainly of anyone with a position of power and a title. - "All PATRIOTS welcome," one of her posts proclaimed. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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.. 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. "Moreover, I have fully invested to ensure that I meet the responsibilities and the expectations of this role.". 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. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told NBC News, I agree with the presidents decision to fire the architect.". 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 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 Morelle called for Blantons resignation last week. 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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. [3] Blanton is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Civil Engineering and a Certified Energy Manager. CAPITOL HILL'S TOP MANAGER FACING MISCONDUCT HEARING FOR ALLEGED MISUSE OF POSITION. President Biden did the right thing and heeded my call for action. He came under fire after an inspector general report found 'administrative, ethical, and policy violations'. Blanton did himself few favors with his testimony to the House Administration Committee last week in which he admitted to being absent from the After doing our due diligence, the Architect of [the] Capitol was terminated at the Presidents direction, the official said in a statement. The White House said Monday that Blantons "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. Why? He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately, McCarthy. Updated February 13, 2023 at 7:24 PM ET. Did You Ever Wonder How and Why the Left Is Able to Push Their Narratives Almost Unhindered? [10] Congressional representatives called for Blanton to resign. Whats Biden waiting for when it comes to 2024? Frank Thorp V is a producer and off-air reporter covering Congress for NBC News, managing coverage of the Senate. In Thursday's hearing, Blanton unequivocally denied that he did anything unethical. 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. 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 Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. 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 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. The report noted that there was no official violation, but that these tours were not a good look. J. Brett Blanton, the Architect of the Capitol, was grilled by House Committee on Administration members last week. The Architect of the Capitol is responsible for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol Complex. "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, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. WaPo: FBI resisted Mar-a-Lago raid, DoJ prosecutors demanded it. 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. President Joe Biden fired the Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton on Monday following allegations that he misused government resources and was not Never use the company vehicle for personal business. Blanton oversees a workforce of nearly 2,000 and is also part of the US Capitol Police Board. 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. NPR's Scott Detrow contributed to this report. Action-backed rhetoric fuels uncandidate DeSantis' launch strategy, I asked ChatGPT to invent a new cocktail. The big picture: An inspector general report last year accused Brett Blanton, who was appointed by former President Trump, of abusing his authority. WebPresident Joe Biden has fired Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton, the Western Journal reported. 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President Joe Biden has fired Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton, the Western Journal reported. There were some $13,926.56 in costs attributed to the Ford Explorer. The committees top Democrat, Rep. Joseph D. Morelle of New York, also called for Mr. Blanton to step down. 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. President Biden on Monday fired the Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton after a report alleged he abused his office. The Blanton familys use of agency vehicles added up to at least $12,434 in unreported, taxable noncash fringe benefits. Blanton also allegedly misrepresented himself as a law enforcement official. He obviously He said he was using his official vehicle at the mobile command post. 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On December 16, 2019, the Committee reported his nomination favorably to the Senate floor. The Architect of the Capitol is responsible for maintaining and operating Capitol grounds, and sits on the Capitol Police Board. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact. Blanton said he was monitoring developments remotely during the Jan. 6 riot. 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. 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. R-Wisconsin, also called on Blanton to immediately resign. He should resign or President Biden should remove him House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Monday called on Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton to resign after damaging inspector general report last fall. Lawmakers are sounding the alarm after the CIA confirmed that China may be considering sending lethal arms to Russia. 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. He previously called for Blanton to be terminated. Blanton is one of three voting members of the United States Capitol Police Board, which oversees the USCP. 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. J. Brett Blanton, the architect of the Capitol, speaks at the Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting on Nov. 29. The Inspector Generals report was highly concerning, which is, in part, why our first hearing was dedicated to providing oversight over the AOC. 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. "President Biden did the right thing and heeded my call for action. 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? The Biden administration on Monday "terminated" the Architect of the Capitol, the White House confirmed. I wholeheartedly reject any assertion I have engaged in unethical behavior during my service to this country, he said. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately. 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 Chair Bryan Steil, R-Wis., called on Blanton to resign Monday, saying in a statement that his "refusal to be transparent and truthful has made clearthat he can no longer lead the organization and must resign immediately. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I look forward to working with my colleagues to begin a search for a new Architect immediately," he said in a statement. 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. The White House terminated Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton's appointment on Monday. A White House official said, After doing our due diligence, the Architect of the Capitol was terminated at the Presidents direction. Sleepy Joe has been busy lately giving orders shooting down balloons or objects out of the sky, and now ordering the termination of an employee. 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