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.
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.
“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,” Mr. McCarthy tweeted Monday.
Calls for Mr. Blanton’s resignation grew since a contentious House hearing last week on the allegations of mismanagement highlighted in an October inspector general’s report.
Mr. Blanton was accused in the report of misrepresenting himself as a law enforcement officer, leading banned tours of the Capitol and misusing his government-issued vehicle.
Rep. Bryan Steil, Wisconsin Republican who chairs the House Administration Committee, called for Mr. Blanton’s immediate resignation on Monday.
“The Inspector General’s report was highly concerning, which is, in part, why our first hearing was dedicated to providing oversight over the [Architect of the Capitol]. 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.
The committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Joseph D. Morelle of New York, also called for Mr. Blanton to step down.
Mr. Morelle praised the White House’s decision to remove Mr. Blanton, calling it the “right thing.”
“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,” Mr. Morelle said in a statement.
The Capitol’s architect oversees the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the U.S. Capitol complex. Blanton was appointed to the role by former President Donald Trump in 2019.
The office of the architect did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
• Mica Soellner can be reached at msoellner@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.