When It Comes to the Truth of Opinion Columns, It’s Reader Beware

When It Comes to the Truth of Opinion Columns, It’s Reader Beware

Thiessen went on to say that Democrats are falsely claiming that the new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who has given $2 million to Trump and the GOP since 2016, was appointed by Trump. In truth, Thiessen says, “He was appointed not by Trump but by the unanimous vote of the bipartisan Postal Service board of governors.”

That might sound fair enough to a casual reader. But a quick check of the USPS website, which a Washington Post factchecker could have easily made in minutes, shows that the six sitting members of that board of governors were all picked by Trump. They did indeed all vote unanimously, as Thiessen reported in his column, to confirm Trump’s nominee for the postmaster general position, but they could hardly be called a bipartisan body.

Actually, Trump curiously allowed the USPS to have no members on its board of governors for much of his first year as president, and by this point, with only five more months left in a four-year term, he has only filled six of the nine available seats. That’s significant, since under the USPS’s rules of operation, it takes the vote of seven governors to remove a postmaster general.

Senate Republicans to introduce smaller Covid package that includes billions for Postal Service

Senate Republicans to introduce smaller Covid package that includes billions for Postal Service

The latest GOP coronavirus relief bill is expected to include an additional $10 billion for the U.S. Postal Service, $300 in boosted weekly federal unemployment benefits until December 27, another round of money for the Paycheck Protection Program and liability protections. The proposal is also expected to include money for education and testing.

Pelosi may cut short congressional vacation to respond to Trump’s sabotage of the U.S. Postal Service: report

Pelosi may cut short congressional vacation to respond to Trump’s sabotage of the U.S. Postal Service: report

“Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democratic leaders are considering cutting short the August recess and bringing the chamber back into session to deal with the unfolding crisis at the U.S. Postal Service,” Politico reported Saturday, citing “Democratic sources.”

Trump officials could face criminal charges for USPS sabotage — and the president may not be able to pardon them

Trump officials could face criminal charges for USPS sabotage — and the president may not be able to pardon them

“Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) made a criminal referral to the New Jersey Attorney General on Friday night, asking him to impanel a grand jury to look at possible breach of state election laws by President Trump, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and others for ‘their accelerating arson of the post office,’ he said. Alarming headlines have emerged in recent days as many states prepare to facilitate widespread mail balloting due to the coronavirus pandemic. President Trump openly admitted he was withholding federal aid from the postal service to prevent mail-in voting, and USPS has notified 46 states and D.C. that it will struggle to deliver some mail ballots on time,” The Daily Beast reported Friday.