President Fires Architect of the Capitol

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden fired the architect of the Capitol Monday afternoon, the White House announced.

J. Brett Blanton’s removal came just days after the architect appeared before a congressional committee to answer allegations made against him in an inspector general report.

That report, released last October, found Blanton misused a government vehicle and allegedly impersonated a law enforcement officer.

The president’s decision was announced via email by Rep. Joseph Morelle, D-N.Y., ranking member of the House Administration Committee.

“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,” Morelle said in a written statement.

“President Biden did the right thing and heeded my call for action. I look forward to working with my colleagues to begin a search for a new architect immediately,” he said.

Blanton, who was appointed to the 10-year term by former President Donald Trump in 2019, was called in to testify before the House Administration Committee last Thursday.

During that appearance, he further angered lawmakers at the hearing by evading questions and admitting that he failed to respond to the Capitol in person on Jan. 6, 2021, when the Hill was under siege.

Earlier Monday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., joined a growing list of lawmakers calling for his resignation.

Addressing the matter via Twitter, he said, “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.”

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue