In August, Postmaster General Louis Dejoy, a prominent Trump donor confirmed by a panel selected by Donald Trump, told Congress that he would roll back changes to the mailing system in order to prevent any appearance of political sabotage. Thus far, he has not done so.
Wow, federal judge rules Trump & Louis DeJoy were "involved in a politically motivated attack on the efficiency of the Postal Service” & will issue injunction reversing changes leading to mail delays under DeJoy https://t.co/HnKJPg3frx
— Ari Berman (@AriBerman) September 17, 2020
In Washington, a U.S. judge put a federal injunction against the USPS to halt those changes and demanded that the changes that have already occurred – the removal of drop boxes, the removal of sorting machines, and the “leave behind” policy which requires postal workers to leave any mail they haven’t collected for delivery by a certain time. The judge pulled no punches, calling the changes “a politically motivated attack.”
According to the Associated Press:
‘A U.S. judge on Thursday blocked controversial Postal Service changes that have slowed mail nationwide, calling them “a politically motivated attack on the efficiency of the Postal Service” before the November election.
‘Judge Stanley Bastian in Yakima, Washington, said he was issuing a nationwide preliminary injunction sought by 14 states that sued the Trump administration and the U.S. Postal Service.’
Alarmingly, Postmaster General DeJoy has acted as an accomplice in the President’s effort to cheat the election and manipulate the Postal Service to deny eligible voters access to the ballot in pursuit of his own re-election. #DontMessWithUSPS
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) August 16, 2020
The judge noted that he had seen a pattern over time of Trump disparaging the vote-by-mail system as “rife with fraud” and a way for Democrats to cheat him out of the presidency. A federal judge’s responsibility is to protect the Constitution, including the right to vote, something Trump doesn’t seem to understand is supposed to be his job, too.
‘The judge noted after a hearing that Trump had repeatedly attacked voting by mail by making unfounded claims that it is rife with fraud. Many more voters are expected to vote by mail this November because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the states have expressed concern that delays might result in voters not receiving ballots or registration forms in time.
‘“The states have demonstrated the defendants are involved in a politically motivated attack on the efficiency of the Postal Service,” Bastian said.
‘He also said the changes created “a substantial possibility many voters will be disenfranchised.”’
Americans should know Republican donor and Trump loyalist Louis DeJoy, who has been Postmaster General since May and who many USPS workers warn is putting policies in place to help Trump cheat in the 2020 election by slowing down absentee ballot deliveries. pic.twitter.com/Ploc0DQ4E7
— Alexandra Chalupa (@AlexandraChalup) July 31, 2020
The changes, the state said, were made without going through the proper channels. The postmaster general has some authority, but not enough to implement widespread changes to the structure of the USPS.
‘Led by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, the states said the Postal Service made the changes without first bringing them to the Postal Regulatory Commission for public comment and an advisory opinion, as required by federal law. They also said the changes interfered with their constitutional authority to administer their elections.’
NEW: A federal judge grants a request from 14 states to temporarily block operational changes at USPS that have slowed delivery; says Trump & DeJoy are “involved in a politically motivated attack on the efficiency of the USPS” and could disrupt election. https://t.co/r9jBTG9TdG
— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) September 17, 2020
