Congressman Cohen Expresses Deep Concerns About Postmaster General’s Potential Conflicts of Interest

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today expressed deep concerns about Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's reported conflicts of interests in running the USPS.

Yesterday, Congressman Cohen joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Committee on Oversight and Reform Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and 191 other House Democrats in calling for the reversal of policies that have worsened the crisis facing the Postal Service and exacerbated a dramatic increase in delayed and undelivered mail. 

In the letter to the Postmaster General, the Members wrote, "[T]he United States Postal Service is a pillar of our American Democracy that is enshrined in the Constitution, which empowers Congress to ‘establish Post Offices and Post Roads.'  The Postal Service provides critical services for the American people: delivering medicine to seniors, paychecks to workers, tax refunds to millions and absentee ballots to voters.  

"It is always essential that the Postal Service be able to deliver mail in a timely and effective manner.  During the once-in-a-century health and economic crisis of COVID-19, the Postal Service's smooth functioning is a matter of life-or-death, and is critical for protecting lives, livelihoods and the life of our American Democracy."

See the entire letter here.

In a statement, Congressman Cohen said: "The post office is as American as apple pie. For Trump to try to devour it, because he fears the consequences of the people safely voting, is further evidence that he values only his own interests and not American values, like a reliable post office and the right to vote."

President Trump again today said he does not support providing additional funding for the USPS sufficient to ensure the smooth operation of mail-in voting later this year, as proposed by House Democrats in ongoing coronavirus relief negotiations.

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