Page:J. Brett Blanton, Architect of the Capitol, Abused His Authority, Misused Government Property and Wasted Taxpayer Money, Among Other Substantiated Violations.pdf/7

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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 movements, use of a law-enforcement-equipped vehicle and credentials, the Fairfax County Police Officers, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney and defense counsel for the suspect all believed Blanton was an off-duty law enforcement officer throughout the entire court proceedings. When the Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney and defense counsel were advised by the OIG in May 2021 that Blanton was not law enforcement, immediate steps were taken by the defense attorney to advise his client of the potential implications of an untruthful witness. Testimonial evidence obtained by the OIG revealed that, following the incident, Blanton told a witness that he used the AOC vehicle with the emergency equipment activated to pursue the driver and detain him near his residence on Elsinore Avenue (a few blocks away) until Fairfax County Police arrived.

Additional interviews conducted by the OIG and U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO) confirmed that Blanton not only told neighbors he used the AOC vehicle’s emergency equipment during that incident but also failed to later advise the Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney or the individual's defense counsel that he was not law enforcement. Testimony obtained from the individual's defense counsel confirmed that Blanton had never advised the court that he was not law enforcement, and he made an affirmative action when asked about being the off-duty law enforcement officer who witnessed the incident. Because of the defense counsel's belief that Blanton was off-duty law enforcement, he did not object to Blanton’s presence at the pretrial meetings. Blanton denied representing himself as law enforcement, stated that it was their mistake and stated his credentials are marked to say "Capitol Police Board Member."

Ethics Violations

Throughout the investigation, the OIG obtained multiple social media posts created by M. Blanton, including photographs of congressional license plates and a photograph of her and Blanton on September 30, 2020, from the dome of the U.S. Capitol with a comment stating, "This is happening!!!" and "All PATRIOTS welcome...PM me 😉." The specific comment was then later edited to read "*Patriots=Americans who love America. Not a candidate." On the same date, an additional photograph taken from the U.S. Capitol was posted with the comment, "Contact me for a private tour. All PATRIOTS accepted!!" [sic] While it is not against AOC policy to post photographs from the U.S. Capitol, M. Blanton openly offered tours of the building while it was closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, on December 28, 2021, M. Blanton publicly published images and comments on social media stating she took her swim team on a tour of the U.S. Capitol while it was still closed to the public. None of the posts or photographs are specifically in violation of U.S. Code (U.S.C.); however, offering private tours of the U.S. Capitol creates the appearance of impropriety and using a public position for private gain, which is a violation of AOC policy.

Blanton utilized his position and AOC vehicles for private gain by using AOC fuel, allowing family to drive a vehicle covered by government insurance and using an AOC vehicle to pursue the driver who struck a vehicle outside of his residence. He misrepresented himself as law enforcement and did not object or correct the Fairfax County Police Department, the Assistant