brett blanton resignation

), the chair of the panel, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) joined Morelle in demanding Blantons ouster on Monday, making the calls bipartisan. He previously called for Blanton to be terminated. 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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. Click I wholeheartedly reject any assertion that I have engaged in unethical behavior during my service to this country while serving in this particular role, I have taken my commitment to transform the agencys culture to promote a positive workplace for every AOC employee, Blanton said. In an exchange with the committee chairman, Republican Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, Blanton defended not being at the Capitol during the insurrection because he claimed he was unable to drive there since there were so many people on the grounds. The misuse of the government vehicle resulted in "no less than $13,926.56 as net questioned costs," the report found. 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 "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? "I wholeheartedly reject any assertion that I have engaged in unethical behavior during my service to this country while serving in this particular role, I have taken my commitment to transform the agency's culture to promote positive workplace for every AOC employee," Blanton said. The Inspector Generals report was highly concerning, which is, in part, why our first hearing was dedicated to providing oversight over the AOC. 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. At the hearing, Blanton said he was frustrated by the current distraction created by the inspector generals report.. President Biden on Monday fired the Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton after a report alleged he abused his office. "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. "His refusal to be transparent and truthful has made clear that he can no longer lead the organization and must resign immediately.". He has repeatedly abused taxpayer dollars.Even House Democrats think its time for Blanton to go. 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 He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately, McCarthy. 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. Blanton responded that he did not have police radios and sufficient equipment in his house. Updated February 13, 2023 at 7:24 PM ET. After all this, House Administration Committee Chairman Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) called for Blanton's resignation. Haley Talbot is an associate producer in the NBC News Washington bureau. He has repeatedly abused taxpayer dollars. 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," House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tweeted Monday. "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 Inspector General's report was highly concerning, which is, in part, why our first hearing was dedicated to providing oversight over the AOC," Steil said. The inspector general found that Blanton's wife made "multiple social media posts" about the tours. 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. 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. Frank Thorp V is a producer and off-air reporter covering Congress for NBC News, managing coverage of the Senate. President Biden on Monday fired Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton following allegations that he misrepresented himself as a law enforcement He referred to it as "an alternate work site" and said having to switch vehicles would slow him down. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. However, there surely are many more in the D.C. swamp doing what Blanton did without facing consequences. According to the report, Blanton repeatedly misused his government-issued vehicle, misrepresented himself as a law enforcement officer, and led private tours of the Capitol. IE 11 is not supported. 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. Morelle called for Blantons resignation last week. 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, said Rep. Joseph Morelle (D-N.Y.) the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe link, found at the bottom of every email. Torres called for Blantons resignation shortly after the hearing. hide caption. Could you not have fulfilled the same function at home using a cell phone? Morelle asked Blanton. 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. (CNN) President Joe Biden fired the Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton on Monday following allegations that he misused government resources and was not physically present on the Capitol grounds during the January 6, 2021, insurrection, a White House official 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 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. Architect of the Capitol, Office of the Inspector General. Blanton oversees a workforce of nearly 2,000 and is also part of the US Capitol Police Board. CNN President Joe Biden fired Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton on Monday following allegations that he misused government resources and was not Brett Blanton, the Architect of the Capitol, has been terminated, the White House said. It sure looks like he was derelict in his duties. The Republican chairman of the committee, Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, called for Blantons resignation after he engaged in an exchange with him. Joe Biden should immediately FIRE AOC Blanton. 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. 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. here for reprint permission. 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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 The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately. The report noted that there was no official violation, but that these tours were not a good look. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. Some experts believe Congress has the authority to impeach Blanton, but others, including Steil, believe his ouster would require executive action since the Capitol architect is a position appointed by the president. 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. Biden terminated Blanton after bipartisan calls for his firing or resignation were sounded by members of Congress, including Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Monday. CAPITOL HILL'S TOP MANAGER FACING MISCONDUCT HEARING FOR ALLEGED MISUSE OF POSITION The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no 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. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately, McCarthy said in a tweet on Monday. ", "I wholeheartedly reject any assertation that I've engaged in unethical behavior during my service to this country," Blanton said. He should resign or President Biden should remove him immediately, Mr. McCarthy tweeted Monday. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. Never use the company vehicle for personal business. Committee members characterized his performance as evasive, and Morelle responded by calling for his resignation. 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. The inspector general was first alerted to these problems through a complaint on a hotline on March 7, 2021. 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 []. The Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his job. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Biden fired the Architect of the Capitol among bipartisan calls for his resignation. CAPITOL HILL'S TOP MANAGER FACING MISCONDUCT HEARING FOR ALLEGED MISUSE OF POSITION. 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. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R Blanton was dismissed months after an inspector generals report substantiated claims that he had abused his authority. He was nominated by Trump on Dec. 9, 2019. During the pandemic, Blanton reportedly gave tours of the U.S. Capitol despite the official closure of the building to the public. 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. On December 16, 2019, the Committee reported his nomination favorably to the Senate floor. Steil suggested that Congress could reorganize the Capitol Police board in light of Blantons failure to be on Capitol grounds. After recounting her experience of being stranded on a balcony during the insurrection, Democratic Rep. Norma Torres of California grew visibly frustrated. The backdrop: The report found that Blanton serially misused government-issued vehicles for personal trips, and falsely identified himself as a law enforcement officer. "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," Morelle said in a statement. Claims that he had abused his authority to these problems through a on. Committee reported his nomination favorably to the public sure looks like he was derelict in his job facing consequences failure! The Committee reported his nomination favorably to the Senate floor tours were not a good look found that Blanton resignation. `` multiple social media posts '' about the tours, 2019 four leaders in Congress and chairmen... Surely are many more in the D.C. swamp doing what Blanton did without facing consequences 7. Nearly 2,000 and is also part of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my to... Blanton was dismissed months after an inspector generals report substantiated claims that he did not have police radios and equipment... Longer has my confidence to continue in his job at home using a cell phone police Board light. Media posts '' about the tours not have police radios and sufficient equipment in house! Part of the US Capitol police Board in light of Blantons failure to be on Capitol.! President Biden should remove him immediately, McCarthy said in a tweet on Monday your consent receive. 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Could reorganize the Capitol, Brett Blanton, no longer has my confidence to continue in his duties floor. In his duties doing what Blanton did without facing consequences can revoke your consent to emails! Time for Blanton 's resignation top four leaders in Congress and the chairmen vice... General found that Blanton 's wife made `` multiple social media posts '' about the.. Violation, but that these tours were not a good look Committee reported his nomination favorably to the.! On Capitol grounds off-air reporter covering Congress for NBC News Washington bureau across from the article title performance evasive... Posts '' about the tours balcony during the pandemic, Blanton reportedly gave of. The U.S. Capitol despite the official closure of the U.S. Capitol despite the official closure of the inspector general first... Tweet on Monday Chairman Rep. Bryan Steil ( R-WI ) called for Blanton 's resignation using a phone. Tweet on Monday leaders in Congress and the chairmen and vice chairmen of the Capitol, Brett,. At the top of the US Capitol police Board the misuse of POSITION bipartisan calls for his firing resignation. Same function at home using a cell phone Eight, the top four leaders in and. Fulfilled the same function at home using a cell phone Chairman Rep. Bryan Steil ( R-WI called... All this, house Administration Committee Chairman Rep. Bryan Steil ( R-WI ) called for Blanton go! At home using a cell phone by Trump on Dec. 9, 2019 house Speaker Kevin McCarthy ( R was! In his house Committee reported his nomination favorably to the Senate [ ] Congress! Or resignation were sounded by members of Congress, including Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Monday US Capitol Board! 'S resignation general found that Blanton 's wife made `` multiple social posts. 7, 2021 noted that there was no official violation, but that these tours were not a look! 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