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Investigative Summary
2021-0011-INVI-P J. Brett Blanton, Architect of the Capitol, Abused His Authority, Misused Government Property and Wasted Taxpayer Money, Among Other Substantiated Violations
On March 7, 2021, the AOC OIG received the complaint that initiated this investigation. The complaint stated that, at approximately 1:15 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 6, 2021, the Ford Explorer (AOC 053A) was observed in the garage of the Walmart in Tyson's Corner, VA. The driver of the vehicle was a woman with brunette hair, possibly in her 20s or 30s, wearing a flannel shirt, and a passenger was in the front seat. The complainant and their passenger observed the vehicle driving in an extremely reckless manner in the garage and swerving out of the garage at a high rate of speed. The complainant claimed the driver made obscene gestures toward them while at the stop sign outside the parking garage. The OIG obtained closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of two females matching the description entering Walmart as well as of the vehicle crossing Leesburg Pike, VA, heading in the direction of Blanton's residence. Blanton confirmed the females to be his daughters but did not initially recall the trip. The CCTV did not capture Blanton entering or exiting the Walmart with his daughters. He later sent the OIG an email stating that his daughter recalled him being in the vehicle and reading from a black binder. During a follow-up interview, he stated that he recalled being in the back seat.
On both weekends and days certified as telework for the AOC, the Ford Explorer (AOC 053A) was observed transporting his youngest daughter to and from Bishop O'Connell High School, where she was enrolled, for both school and sporting events.
3. 2021 Ford Explorer ST (EA-4088)
After driving the 2020 Ford Explorer, and because the Jeep Grand Cherokee's lease was coming to an end, Blanton told his Administrative Officer that he preferred the Ford Explorer and would like a similar vehicle for his use. The AOC purchased a 2021 Ford Explorer ST, which was equipped with D.C. license plate EA-4088, for $49,033.64 and paid an additional $37,458.74 to outfit it with emergency equipment. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain issues, the 2021 Ford Explorer was not in the AOC's possession until March 2022.
R. Blanton advised the OIG that, while driving his daughter back to James Madison University (JMU) on a weekend following spring break, the new Ford Explorer (EA-4088) experienced issues and needed service. JMU is approximately 125 miles from Blanton's residence. The OIG confirmed with the AOC that Blanton had taken possession of the vehicle in early March 2022, drove it home over a weekend and returned it to the OCSO due to maintenance issues on March 21, 2022.
Coincidently, on July 4, 2022, following multiple interviews and knowledge of the OIG's investigation into misuse of the AOC vehicle, an OIG investigator observed Blanton, teenage girls, a teenage boy, and one adult blond female exit the vehicle at the East Front of the U.S. Capitol Building.
Blanton did not use any of the AOC vehicles to respond to the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2020, or during any incident that has taken place at the U.S. Capitol during his tenure as the Architect. In a statement provided to the Committee on House Administration, U.S. House of Representatives, on
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