Key takeaways:
- President Joe Biden has terminated J. Brett Blanton, the Architect of the Capitol, following allegations of misuse of government resources and his absence during the January 6, 2021, insurrection.
- The decision to terminate Blanton comes after a scathing inspector general report released last year found “administrative, ethical and policy violations” by Blanton.
- The White House official said that the President’s decision to terminate Blanton was made after “due diligence” and it is unclear who will replace Blanton as the Architect of the Capitol.
President Joe Biden has fired the Architect of the Capitol, J. Brett Blanton, following allegations of misuse of government resources and his absence during the January 6, 2021, insurrection.
The decision to terminate Blanton comes after a scathing inspector general report released last year found “administrative, ethical and policy violations” by Blanton, a Trump-era appointee. The report accused Blanton of abuse of government property and wasting taxpayer dollars by allowing his family to drive a government-owned vehicle and taking the vehicle on out-of-town trips.
The report also found that Blanton misrepresented himself as a law enforcement official. The White House official said that President Biden “terminated” Blanton amid bipartisan calls for his firing or resignation, including from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy earlier on Monday.
The Architect of the Capitol is responsible for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol Complex. The position is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
The White House official said that the President’s decision to terminate Blanton was made after “due diligence.” It is unclear who will replace Blanton as the Architect of the Capitol.
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