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President Biden dismissed Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton Monday amid calls from lawmakers of each events for him to step down over allegations that he misused authorities property and impersonated a legislation enforcement officer — and following Blanton’s admission that he stayed away from the Capitol constructing in the course of the 2021 riot by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
“After doing our due diligence, the Architect of the Capitol was terminated on the President’s course,” a White Home official mentioned in a press release.
Simply earlier than information broke of Blanton’s firing, Home Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) tweeted that Blanton “now not has my confidence to proceed in his job.
“He ought to resign or President Biden ought to take away him instantly,” McCarthy added.
Blanton had appeared earlier than the Committee on Home Administration final week to answer a watchdog report from October, which claimed that he misused his company automobile at taxpayer expense and misrepresented himself as a legislation enforcement officer throughout a hit-and-run close to his residence.
The report additionally discovered Blanton allowed unauthorized use of his work automobile, together with by his spouse and teenaged daughter, who racked up practically 30,000 miles — about triple the estimate for official use. The watchdog additionally discovered that Blanton had taken the automobiles as removed from the nation’s capital as South Carolina and Florida.
In response to the latter declare, Blanton mentioned that he wanted his company automotive shut at hand within the occasion he needed to rush again to Washington. Nonetheless, he undercut his personal argument by noting that he additionally took care to rearrange holidays the place he might shortly prepare navy transport to the Capitol — invalidating his purported want for the automotive.
Through the listening to, Blanton additionally admitted that he wasn’t on the Capitol in the course of the riot as a result of he didn’t suppose it might be “prudent” to drive in that day, infuriating lawmakers who have been trapped within the constructing whereas trying to rely the 2020 Electoral School votes.
As a substitute of being on scene, Blanton mentioned he used his company automobile as a “cell command publish,” monitoring occasions on police radio and directing his personnel.
“I discover it mind-blowing that the top of the AOC, the chief, figuring out what you knew — most likely much more than we did that day — wouldn't have been on this constructing guaranteeing the security and safety not solely of the constructing however of the workers that you simply lead,” Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.) mentioned on the listening to.
“I’m outraged that you'd be in a cushty place, sir, whereas the remainder of us have been occupied with dying that day and the way we have been going to return out alive that day,” raged Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.). “Outrageous that you weren't right here.”
Committee chairman Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) mentioned in a press release on Monday that Blanton “can now not lead.”
“The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) performs a key position in preserving the Capitol campus and needs to be targeted on guaranteeing the establishment works for Members, Committees, employees, and most significantly, the American folks,” Steil mentioned.
“The Inspector Basic’s report was extremely regarding, which is, partially, why our first listening to was devoted to offering oversight over the AOC. His refusal to be clear and truthful has made clear that he can now not lead the group and should resign instantly,” he added.
The AOC’s workplace is liable for sustaining lots of the notable buildings on Capitol Hill, together with the Capitol itself, Home and Senate workplaces, the Supreme Courtroom and the Library of Congress.
The Architect of the Capitol additionally serves on the Capitol Police Board, which oversees the power and is answerable for safety preparations.
“I wholeheartedly reject any assertion that I've engaged in unethical habits throughout my service to this nation whereas serving on this explicit position, I've taken my dedication to rework the company’s tradition to advertise constructive office for each AOC worker,” Blanton mentioned on the listening to.
“Furthermore, I've totally invested to make sure that I meet the tasks and the expectations of this position,” he added.
Blanton was nominated for a ten-year time period as AOC by Trump in December 2019 and was sworn within the following January. A 22-year veteran of the Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps, Blanton retired from the service in 2015 and have become deputy vp for engineering on the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority — which oversees Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide and Dulles Worldwide airports in northern Virginia.
With Publish wires
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