Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is pressing the United States Postal Service (USPS) Board of Governors to provide details about the vetting process used for the selection of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.
On Wednesday, Schumer submitted a letter addressed to the board’s chairman Robert Duncan demanding answers as Democratic leaders accuse the board of blocking Congress from questioning the firm that was involved in DeJoy’s hiring.
“Since assuming his position, Mr. DeJoy has made a series of damaging operational changes that have led to reports of dramatic delays in the delivery of mail, including paychecks, prescription drugs, and mail-in ballots,” Schumer wrote.
As he expressed deep concern about the concerns over nationwide mail processing delays, Schumer noted that the current state of the Postal Service has led to “heightened” public outcry and questions about DeJoy’s selection.
He added, “These delays — taking place during a devastating global pandemic and a national election — have only heightened the need for answers on why Mr. DeJoy was selected.”
Schumer requested that the Board of Governors release Russell Reynolds from any non-disclosure agreement he may have signed in order for him to testify before Congress.
“I request that you immediately release Russell Reynolds from any non-disclosure agreement so that Congress and the communities served by the Postal Service can obtain the full story behind Mr. DeJoy’s selection,” the top-ranking Democrat wrote.
Schumer also challenged Duncan and the board to provide a “fulsome explanation” of President Donald Trump and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s influence in the candidate search and selection process for the postmaster general position.
“I also call on you to direct the Board to provide a complete and fulsome explanation of the role of President Trump and Secretary Mnuchin in the search process for a new Postmaster and the selection of Mr. DeJoy,” he wrote.
Schumer’s letter comes less than one day after DeJoy announced plans to halt any operational changes to the Postal Service until after the upcoming general election, as previously reported on IJR.
According to DeJoy, the decision was made to refute any possible claims that his changes to the Postal Service could impact the outcome of the election.
“To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded.”
Although DeJoy has halted operational changes to USPS, he has agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee on Monday, August 24. Additionally, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the House will still vote on a Postal Service bill on Saturday.
