Top Democrats called on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and Robert Duncan, the chairman of the United States Postal Board of Governors, to testify before Congress before the end of the month to answer why they are advancing "dangerous new policies" that pose "a grave threat to the integrity of the election."
The demand, issued by Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the minority leader, comes as the Postal Service has warned states that it may not be able to meet their deadlines for delivering last-minute mail-in ballots. The warning is the latest development in a growing controversy over Mr. DeJoy's handling of vote-by-mail operations as President Trump rails against the practice.
"The Postmaster General — a Trump megadonor — has acted as an accomplice in the president's campaign to cheat in the election, as he launches sweeping new operational changes that degrade delivery standards and delay the mail," the lawmakers said in a statement. "The Postal Service itself has warned that voters — even if they send in their ballots by state deadlines — may be disenfranchised in 46 states and in Washington, D.C., by continued delays."
Under the leadership of Mr. DeJoy, the Postal Service is undergoing cuts to its operations that appear to have led to slower and less reliable delivery, creating deep unease even among some Republican lawmakers from largely rural mail-dependent states. Mr. DeJoy has framed the changes as essential to modernize an agency suffering billion-dollar losses. Democratic lawmakers have accused the president of sabotaging the Postal Service as a means of voter suppression and have started multiple investigations into the delays.
Ms. Pelosi and other top Democrats in the House have begun discussing bringing lawmakers back early from their summer recess to address the issues.
Protesters in Washington on Saturday called for Mr. DeJoy's resignation, saying he was undercutting the Postal Service and threatening Americans' ability to vote.
About 100 people gathered in the wealthy residential neighborhood of Kalorama outside Mr. DeJoy's apartment complex. Another protest was scheduled for Sunday afternoon outside Mr. DeJoy's Greensboro, N.C., home.
Protesters gather at Postal Service boss' home amid concerns over mailed youtu.be
New York Times, August 16, 2020
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August 16, 2020
Voices4America Post Script.Can't get to DoJoy's house to protest? Call Speaker Pelosi, Congresswoman Maloney (head of Oversight) and your own Rep. #PrimeTimeHearingsNow #SubpoenasNow #SaveThePostOffice #SaveDemocracy
