Justice Division probing postmaster over fundraising – KIRO 7 Information Seattle

WASHINGTON – (AP) – The Justice Department is investigating Postmaster General Louis DeJoy over political fundraising in his former shop, a DeJoy spokesman said Thursday.

Federal agencies have summoned DeJoy over the past few weeks and interviewed current and former employees of DeJoy and his company, the Washington Post reported. Mark Corallo, a DeJoy spokesman, confirmed an investigation in a statement to The Associated Press.

“Mr. DeJoy has learned that the Department of Justice is investigating campaign contributions from employees who worked for him when he was in the private sector. He has always followed and never knowingly violated campaign contributions laws,” said Corallo .

The agency declined to comment on the news about the investigation.

DeJoy, a wealthy former logistics manager, has been mired in controversy since taking over the postal service last summer and introducing policy changes that delayed the post before the 2020 elections, when there were a large number of absentee votes.

Last year, DeJoy underwent additional scrutiny after the newspaper reported that five employees who worked for his former company, New Breed Logistics, said they were asked by DeJoy’s employees or DeJoy himself to write checks and participate in political fundraisers at DeJoys Villa in North Carolina. Two former employees told the newspaper that DeJoy would later give larger bonuses to help reimburse dues.

It is not illegal to encourage employees to contribute to candidates. It is illegal to reimburse them to circumvent federal contribution caps.

DeJoy, who has not been charged with a crime, denied having repaid executives for their contribution to President Donald Trump’s campaign while questioned before a congressional committee last year.

Campaign funding disclosures show that between 2000 and 2014, when New Breed was sold, more than 100 employees donated more than $ 610,000 in total to Republican candidates supported by DeJoy and his family. He and his family donated more than $ 1 million to Republican politicians.

A district attorney in Wake County, North Carolina, decided earlier this year not to open a criminal investigation into the allegations because the matter was outside of her office’s jurisdiction.

Corallo said DeJoy would work together on the investigation.

“Mr. DeJoy has fully cooperated with Congress in answering the questions he has asked regarding these matters. The same applies to the investigation by the Inspector General of the Post who, after a thorough investigation, presented Mr. DeJoy with an unobjectionable health certificate regarding his disclosure. He expects no less on this latest issue and intends to work with the DOJ to find a speedy resolution, “said Corallo.

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Izaguirre reported from Lindenhurst, New York.

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