Monday, February 13, 2023

Architect of the Capitol given the boot

President Biden fired Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton on Monday, a White House official told The Hill, following outrage over an inspector general report that found Blanton misused a government vehicle [resulting in nearly $14,000 worth of inappropriate costs] and allegedly impersonated a law enforcement officer.

[...]

The president’s move comes just hours after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) called for Blanton to step down or be removed by Biden.

House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) and ranking member Joseph Morelle (D-N.Y.) had also called for the resignation of the Architect of the Capitol, who oversees the Capitol complex’s building maintenance, preservation and development.

[...]

Blanton had been improperly identified as an off-duty police officer during an incident in which he chased down a hit-and-run that happened outside his residence.

He had denied misrepresenting himself as law enforcement, saying that it was a mistake on the part of Fairfax County Police after Blanton identified himself as a “Capitol Police Board Member.”

  The Hill
OK, THAT complaint sounds debatable, but using the government vehicle for personal use is not good (and not uncommon for Republican administration folk - and, yes, he was a Trump appointee.)

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

No comments: