President Biden has fired J. Brett Blanton, the federal official responsible for the maintenance and operation of the Capitol complex.
Blanton had been appointed by former president Donald Trump as architect of the capital. An investigative report accused him of misusing his position and revelations that he avoided the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack, the New York Times reported.
Last fall, the inspector general of his office documented evidence supporting serious allegations against him. Among the accusations were that he had misused government-issued vehicles, misled investigators and impersonated a police officer on multiple occasion, published reports say.
Concerns among lawmakers in both parties intensified at a 90-minute hearing on Feb. 10 “in which Mr. Blanton gave noncommittal and at times contradictory answers about his conduct, including his decision to stay away from the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot, The Times reported.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on Twitter that Mr. Blanton “no longer has my confidence to continue in his job,” and should resign or be removed by Mr. Biden.
