At least 20 states plan to sue the U.S. Postal Service over service delays, threat to election

[Nevilledog]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/at-least-20-states-plan-to-sue-the-us-postal-service-over-service-delays-threat-to-election/2020/08/18/c6ca2dc6-e166-11ea-b69b-64f7b0477ed4_story.html


At least 20 states plan to file lawsuits this week against the U.S. Postal Service and its new postmaster, Louis DeJoy, seeking to reverse service changes that have prompted widespread reports of delays and accusations of an intentional effort to thwart voters from mailing their ballots this fall.

The suits, expected to be filed in federal court imminently, will argue that the Postal Service broke the law by making operational changes without first seeking approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission. They will also argue that the changes will impede states’ ability to run “free and fair elections,” officials from several state attorney general offices told The Washington Post.

“We’re trying to stop Trump’s attacks on the Postal Service, which we believe to be an attack on the integrity of election. It’s a straight up attack on democracy,” Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh (D) said in an interview. “This conduct is illegal, it’s unconstitutional, it’s harmful to the country, it’s harmful to individuals.”

“We’re asking a court to make him stop,” he said.

President Trump said last week that he was opposed to an emergency bailout for the agency because he does not want widespread voting by mail in the fall.

*snip*

[soothsayer]

1. Sic 'em!

[SheltieLover]

2. You said it!

[tinrobot]

3. Needs to happen IMMEDIATELY.

By the time it works through the courts, the election will be over.

[ehrnst]

6. Already in action. In case you're behind the firewall:

They are doing this to save the election:

The suits, including one filed Tuesday afternoon in federal court in Washington state, will argue that the Postal Service broke the law by making operational changes without first seeking approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission. They will also argue that the changes will impede states’ ability to run free and fair elections, officials from several state attorney general’s offices told The Washington Post. The Constitution gives states and Congress, not the executive branch, the power to regulate elections.

“We will be taking action to reinstate Postal Service standards that all Americans depend on, whether it’s for delivering their prescription drugs or for carrying their very right to vote,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said at a news conference.

Pennsylvania’s suit is being joined by California, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts and North Carolina, among others. It names DeJoy, the Postal Service and the chairman of the USPS’s board of governors, Robert Duncan, as defendants.

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced his state was filing a separate suit, joined by Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin. The lawsuit names President Trump as a defendant, along with the Postal Service and DeJoy, accusing the president of infringing on state power to administer elections through his attacks on mail balloting.

“We’re trying to stop Trump’s attacks on the Postal Service, which we believe to be an attack on the integrity of the election. It’s a straight-up attack on democracy,” Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh (D) said in an interview. “This conduct is illegal. It’s unconstitutional. It’s harmful to the country. It’s harmful to individuals.”

“We’re asking a court to make him stop,” he said.

[Thekaspervote]

4. Very good news!!

[ehrnst]

5. That's going to much harder for DT admin to cope with than Congressional subpoenas

This bypasses Barr - congress would need to request enforcement of non-compliance of subpoenas from the DoJ.

These go before judges.

Josh Shapiro, the AG quoted in the article used to serve in Congress. This is where experience and deep knowledge of proceedure and workarounds to obstacles is so valuable.

I would bet good money that Pelosi contacted Dem AGs a few weeks ago to coordinate Congressional action and announcements with them.