Trump assails US Postal Service hearings scheduled around Republican convention
President Trump urged lawmakers to reschedule hearings focused on U.S. Postal Service oversight, suggesting they have been set to detract from the Republican National Convention next week. In particular, he put pressure on Sen. Ron Johnson, the Republican chairman of the Homeland Security of Government Affairs Committee, to change the date for a hearing set for Friday, which he erroneously said is scheduled for Saturday, amid rising concerns about now-suspended policies that have been attributed to mail delays that could have a significant effect on mail-in ballots. "Why are Republicans allowing the Democrats to have ridiculous Post Office hearings on Saturday & Monday, just before and during our Convention. Let them hold them NOW (during their Convention) or after our Convention is over. Always playing right into their hands!" Trump tweeted on Wednesday, also including the Twitter handle for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
The Democratic National Convention, which began on Monday, is scheduled to go on until Thursday. Former Vice President Joe Biden was named the nominee on Tuesday. His running mate is Sen. Kamala Harris of California. The Republican National Convention is set to begin next Monday, the same day Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has agreed to testify in front of the House Oversight Committee. Robert Duncan, the chairman of the Postal Service's board of governors, also will testify. Johnson scheduled his panel's hearing for Friday, claiming it should precede one led by Democrats. "The Postal Service has had significant financial problems for years, and it is important for everyone to fully understand its current fiscal challenges," the chairman said in a statement. "The postmaster general should have an opportunity to describe those realities before going before a hostile House committee determined to conduct a show trial."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called lawmakers back to the Capitol to vote Saturday on legislation to provide $25 billion dollars to the cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service and block the Trump administration from administering changes to the U.S. Postal Service. Democrats accuse Trump of removing mail sorting equipment and mailboxes in an effort to squelch mail-in balloting ahead of the November election while the president and some of his allies warn about the potential for voter fraud with widespread mail-in voting during the pandemic. DeJoy announced on Tuesday that the U.S. Postal Service will pause changes to the agency until after the election.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-assails-us-postal-service-hearings-scheduled-around-republican-convention
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1296104752284082176
Ron Johnson to lead Senate hearing over postal service on Friday
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2020/08
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Postmaster general says Postal Service suspending operational changes until after election
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/postmaster-general-says-usps-suspending-operational-changes-until-after-election