What to Know
- Several individuals including candidates for public office sued President Donald Trump and the U.S. Postal Service and its new postmaster general in New York on Monday to ensure adequate funding for postal operations.
- The lawsuit was filed in Manhattan federal court as multiple lawsuits were threatened across the country.
- The lawsuit is in response to comments the president recently made and actions taken by newly appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to change operations at post offices nationwide.
Several individuals including candidates for public office sued President Donald Trump and the U.S. Postal Service and its new postmaster general in New York on Monday to ensure adequate funding for postal operations.
The lawsuit was filed in Manhattan federal court as multiple lawsuits were threatened across the country as a response to comments the president recently made and actions taken by newly appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to change operations at post offices nationwide.
The lawsuit alleges that Trump and DeJoy are trying to ensure the postal service cannot reliably deliver election mail.
The lawsuit seeks a court order to force adequate funding of the postal service prior to November’s election.
Among plaintiffs in the lawsuit was Mondaire Jones, an attorney and the Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York’s 17th Congressional District, representing Rockland and Westchester counties.
Other plaintiffs included New York State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, a Democrat in a district representing the Bronx and Westchester and two Democratic candidates for New York State Assembly: Chris Burdick, who seeks to represent parts of Westchester County and Stephanie Keegan, who seeks parts of Putnam and Westchester counties.
News
A message seeking comment was left with the Justice Department.
During and interview on the TODAY Show Monday, Gov. Phil Murphy hinted that New Jersey may join in on the lawsuit as well. Sen. Bob Menendez blasted the Trump administration's handling of the postal service, saying "never have I seen a president play politics with the U.S. Postal Service or make our mail a political issue."
The letter carriers union conceded that first-class mail has dropped precipitously over the years and since the pandemic began, but promised to deliver six million ballots in New Jersey.
"We're confident there won't be any issues with vote by mail, we just encourage you to get them in early," said Richard O'Connell, president of the New Jersey Association of Letter Carriers.
The lawsuit was filed soon after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the House back into session over the crisis at the Postal Service.
Pelosi wants to take up legislation that would prohibit changes at the agency after DeJoy set off a nationwide outcry over delays, new prices and cutbacks just as millions of Americans will begin voting by mail to avoid polling places during the coronavirus outbreak.
