On Monday, United States President Joe Biden fired Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton, appointed by former President Donald Trump, over allegations of ethics violations.
The official is accused of misusing government resources that were not physically present on the grounds of the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. A White House official noted that the president "terminated" the individual following bipartisan calls for the latter's resignation, including from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Biden Fires Architect of the Capitol
Before the decision, an inspector general report released in the fall accused the Architect of the Capitol of abusing government property and not properly managing taxpayer money. He allegedly allowed his family to drive a vehicle that belonged to the government. He reportedly took out the car on several out-of-town trips to South Carolina and Florida.
Furthermore, the federal watchdog claims that Blanton committed ethics violations when he offered tours of the Capitol a few weeks before the November 2020 elections. Last week, the individual was questioned by House Committee on Administration members during a hearing, as per CNN.
The hearing was to review a federal watchdog report regarding Blanton's alleged illegal actions. Lawmakers from both sides of the government on Thursday learned that the Architect of the Capitol was not inside the building or anywhere near it on the day of the insurrection of Trump loyalists.
During the Thursday hearing, Blanton unequivocally denied that he did any wrongdoings that could be considered unethical. He said he committed to transforming the agency's culture to promote a positive work environment for every employee.
Republican Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, the committee chairman, was told by Blanton that he was not at the Capitol when the mob of Trump supporters raided the building. He claims that he could not drive to the area due to the number of people on the grounds.
Misuse of Government Resources
The person seated in the position of the Architect of the Capitol is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the U.S. Capitol along with its expansive grounds and building complex. According to USA Today, the defendant, who is also a civil engineer, previously worked at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority as deputy vice president.
Investigators said that they found Blanton and his family, on multiple occasions, misusing government vehicles that were supposed to be used for home-to-work only. The culprits include the defendant's wife and adult daughter.
The report noted that one such example of misuse was reported in March 2021 when someone said that a black Ford Explorer driver was driving "extremely recklessly" while in a parking garage. The resident noted that the vehicle was swerving at about 65 mph.
McCarthy's take on the incident was shown in a Twitter post where he said that Blanton no longer held his confidence to continue being the Architect of the Capitol. He then called on the individual to resign and urged Biden to fire the embattled official, said the Washington Post.
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