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Payments to fired Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton to be garnished
Taxpayers will be partially reimbursed for the alleged waste of money by former Architect of the U.S. Capitol Brett Blanton, according to the acting architect of the Capitol.
Congressional administrators are withholding $12,516 from the final annual payments due to Blanton, who was fired by President Biden in February, amid controversy over his personal use of a taxpayer-funded vehicle and questions about his adherence to agency policies.
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
In a letter to the Senate Budget Committee, the acting architect of the Capitol confirmed some of Blanton’s final pay would be withheld. The letter said that “all Architect of the Capitol employees must be accountable and comply with agency policies.”
An internal review in October 2022 by the inspector general for the architect of the Capitol found “Blanton abused his authority and squandered taxpayer money, including by allowing his family to use his government-owned SUVs, and driving the vehicles on family vacations to South Carolina, West Virginia and Florida, and a trip to a craft brewery.
The inspector general’s report also alleged Blanton allowed his wife and daughter to drive his government-issued car, including one instance in which his daughter was accused of driving recklessly. The report said Blanton’s daughter “had transported both her friends and boyfriend in the vehicle and referred to using the [Architect of the Capitol]’s fuel as ‘free gas.'”
In another instance, the report said Blanton claimed to be a law enforcement agent, and after a traffic accident, “when the driver inquired about Blanton’s insurance information, Blanton told him it was a government vehicle and that he was an ‘agent,'” said the report.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, Republican of Iowa, said Blanton’s treatment of his office vehicles was a “blatant misuse of government property.” In a Senate floor speech, Grassley quoted an excerpt of the office’s internal review, arguing Blanton “violated every pillar the Office of Inspector General operates under including theft, fraud, waste and abuse against not only the architect of the Capitol, but also the taxpayer.”
Blanton was also sharply criticized by Democrats at a hearing in early 2023 for failing to travel to the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 to respond to the damage from the riotous violence of the Capitol Insurrection. During the hearing, Rep. Norma Torres, Democrat of California, told Blanton, “I am outraged that you would be in a comfortable place, sir, while the rest of us were thinking about dying that day and how we were going to come out alive that day.”
An acting architect of the Capitol has been named to temporarily succeed Blanton. Senate sources told CBS News there are proposals for legislation this year to give Congress the ability to oust the architect of the Capitol, who is appointed by the U.S. president. Blanton was appointed by then-President Donald Trump.
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“Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo on building trust with Ariana Grande to bring Elphaba and Glinda to life
Cynthia Erivo is earning widespread acclaim for her portrayal of Elphaba in the highly anticipated film adaptation of “Wicked.” The movie has already set records, grossing $262 million domestically and becoming one of the most successful Broadway adaptations.
In an interview on “CBS Mornings,“ Erivo opened up about how her friendship with singer and co-star Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda, became such an important part of their on-screen chemistry. She revealed that despite how close they are now, they didn’t know each other before filming.
“She came to my house, we sat, we chatted and talked,” Erivo said. “And we just talked about everything and nothing. We were there for ages, and it was very, very easy, so part of us kind of knew, ‘Oh, this might, this might work. We’ll be okay, and I think we’ll be able to get along with each other, and we’ll find it.'”
Their connection deepened during a dinner hosted by director Jon M. Chu.
“Stephen Schwartz played piano, and we sang ‘For Good’ together for the first time,” Erivo recalled. “Our voices are very different but somehow, they made sense together.”
To ensure their collaboration stayed strong, Erivo and Grande made a pact early and promised to take care of each other, the Tony Award winner said.
“Before we started shooting both of us had a conversation about making sure that we would take care of each other and make the space that we needed for each other, and take, you know, give each other what we needed, be generous with each other in this thing, because we knew it was a big undertaking,” she said. “We knew we had a big responsibility, but we knew neither of us could really do that alone.”
On fans singing along to the movie in theaters, Erivo was enthusiastic.
“I’m not ever going to be the person that says, ‘Don’t sing.’ I think there’s something really beautiful about people feeling comfortable enough to sing along,” she said.
On Christmas Day, a sing-a-long version of Wicked will be released in theaters, according to Erivo.
The actress said that playing Elphaba – who goes on to become the Wicked Witch of the West in “The Wizard of Oz” – required her to embrace her vulnerability.
“It means people can see the human being behind the character a little bit more,” she shared. “That meant I had to allow myself to do that a little bit, which was terrifying, but I knew it would be meaningful. That was really the only way to play this role.”
As Erivo reflected on her journey with “Wicked”, she said she remains proud of the bravery it took to bring authenticity to Elphaba.
“You have to put yourself on the line a little bit… This is scary, but it’s the only way to play her is to reveal a bit more of me,” she said.
Pop icon Elton John said on Sunday that he struggled to see his new musical, “The Devil Wears Prada” after losing his eyesight because of an eye infection.
John gave audience members an update on his condition at the conclusion of the musical’s opening night at London’s Dominion Theatre, which was also a charity gala for the Elton John AIDS foundation.
“I haven’t been able to come to many of the previews because, as you know, I’ve lost my eyesight so, it’s hard for me to see it,” he said. “But I love to hear it and it quite sounded good tonight.”
Dave Benett
John, 77, revealed in September that he had been dealing with a “severe eye infection” that left him with “only limited vision in one eye.” He said it was healing, but it “will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye.”
Last week, he told “Good Morning America” that there’s “hope and encouragement” that he will recover, but admits he can’t even see a lyric at the studio.
“I can’t see anything, I can’t read anything, I can’t watch anything,” John said.
John retired from touring in 2023, but wrote the score for “The Devil Wears Prada,” a stage musical based on the 2006 movie (which itself was based on the 2003 novel by Lauren Weisberger) about a young journalist navigating the demands of a fashion magazine and its fearsome editor. In addition to the show, he has a documentary, “Elton John: Never Too Late” about him coming out on Dec. 13.
The pop legend also achieved EGOT status earlier this year after winning an Emmy for outstanding variety special (live) for his show “Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium.”
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