‘Highly Concerning’: Capitol Hill Architect To Face Congress After Misconduct Allegations

Architect of the Capitol (AOC) Brett Blanton is set to testify before a House committee on Thursday after a report from the inspector general detailed several misconduct allegations against him. 

Blanton, who heads up the federal agency that oversees the management of the U.S. Capitol Complex, has been accused of abusing his authority, misusing government property, and wasting taxpayer money. He will testify before the House Administration Committee, now headed by Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI).

“We need to discuss your personal role as the head of the [Architect of the Capitol] and allegations that have been brought to light by the AOC Inspector General. I have read the IG report and the allegations are highly concerning,” Steil will say at the meeting, according to a draft of his prepared statement obtained by POLITICO. 

Blanton has faced criticism after the inspector general declared several of the allegations against the bureaucrat “substantiated.” Many of the concerns involve Blanton’s use of government vehicles. 

According to the inspector general, Blanton once used an AOC vehicle to chase after another driver who had hit an automobile belonging to his daughter’s boyfriend. In a police report, Blanton was described as an “off-duty DC police officer,” which he is not. The suspect also reportedly believed that Blanton was a police officer, saying that he passed himself as law enforcement during pretrial hearings. 

Another incident detailed in the IG report claims Blanton’s daughter drove about 60 miles-per-hour in a 30-mile-per-hour zone while making an obscene gesture while exiting a parking garage. 

The inspector general said the violations took place in South Carolina, Florida, West Virginia, and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The report identified more than $13,000 in questioned costs for the vehicles. 

“The OIG [Office of Inspector General] identified a significant amount of administrative, ethical and policy violations, as well as evidence of criminal violations throughout the investigation. Blanton misled and provided false information to investigators on multiple occasions,” the report said. 

A prepared statement obtained by POLITICO indicates that Blanton’s remarks to the committee will focus on the work of the Capitol Architect and not on the misconduct allegations. 

“Everyone at the AOC stands ready to support this Committee’s effort to meet current demands and to plan for the future. Together, we can protect and preserve this cherished institution as well as all of those who serve here. Across the agency, we are committed to working as one team, united in one mission,” the prepared statement from Blanton reads.

Blanton, who some lawmakers want to resign, is also expected to be questioned about his decision to support erecting a fence around the Capitol ahead of President Biden’s State of the Union, a move which cost nearly $1 million. 

Blanton is in year three of the 10-year term slated for his position.

John Fetterman Hospitalized At Democrat Senate Retreat

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was rushed to the hospital on Wednesday evening where he remained overnight after feeling lightheaded at a Democrat Senate retreat.

The development comes after Fetterman suffered a serious stroke while on the campaign trail last year. The stroke happened just before the primary, where he and Republican Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz won their parties’ nominations.

“Towards the end of the Senate Democratic retreat today, Senator John Fetterman began feeling lightheaded,” said Fetterman’s communications director, Joe Calvello. “He left and called his staff, who picked him up and drove him to The George Washington University Hospital.”

“Initial tests did not show evidence of a new stroke, but doctors are running more tests and John is remaining overnight for observation,” the statement continued. “He is in good spirits and talking with his staff and family. We will provide more information when we have it.”

The Washington Post Editorial Board slammed Fetterman in an op-ed back in September over his campaign’s lack of transparency surrounding his health issues following the stroke.

“Since returning to the campaign trail, Mr. Fetterman has been halting in his performances,” the Editorial Board wrote. “He stammers, appears confused and keeps his remarks short. He’s held no news conferences. Mr. Fetterman acknowledges his difficulties with auditory processing, which make it hard for him to respond quickly to what he’s hearing. He receives speech therapy — and we wish him a speedy, full recovery — but the lingering, unanswered questions about his health, underscored by his hesitation to debate, are unsettling.”

The newspaper also said that Fetterman’s team was not credible when discussing the senator’s health because they were not forthcoming with how serious the situation was after he suffered the stroke.

“The Fetterman campaign squandered credibility by concealing from the public for two days after his stroke that he had been hospitalized,” the op-ed continued. “It waited weeks longer to reveal a more complete picture of his medical history, including that he had been diagnosed in 2017 with cardiomyopathy. Mr. Fetterman had a pacemaker with a defibrillator implanted after the stroke. The campaign’s response to questions about Mr. Fetterman’s health is to point to a doctor’s note, released more than 14 weeks ago, which said ‘he should be able to campaign and serve in the U.S. Senate without a problem’ if he takes his medications and exercises.”

The Editorial Board said that Fetterman pointing to a 4-month-old doctor’s note was “not good enough” and that he “should release his medical records for independent review.”

Related: WATCH: Fetterman Yells At Oz During Closing Statements