WATCH: AOC Grills Postmaster DeJoy About His Calendar and Contacts With Former Employer

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By Araceli Cruz

August 25, 2020

The Bronx representative dug a little deeper to see what the postmaster might be hiding.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy got an earful by House Democrats over the lack of transparency, delay in mail, and inability to understand his job. Monday’s hearing by the Committee on Oversight and Reform led by Chairwoman Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) comes just two days after the House passed a bill to give the United States Postal Services (USPS) $25 billion in financial relief. But it was Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) who strategically asked about his personal appointments and his former employer to show a conflict of interest. 

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“Can we get a commitment from you to submit your calendar dating back to June 16th to this committee?” Rep. Ocasio-Cortez asked DeJoy. 

June 16 was the day that DeJoy officially began his new job with the USPS. In 2018 he resigned from his position as CEO of XPO Logistics. Several Democrats questioned DeJoy about his continued ties to the firm and his stocks there. 

When Rep. Ocasio-Cortez asked him if he kept in contact with anyone at XPO Logistics since he started at his new job, that President Donald Trump appointed him to, he conceded and said, “I probably would have spoken to them.” 

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez continued to press him about his digital calendar, which is the property of USPS. She suggested to Rep. Maloney, “If we cannot receive them voluntarily, I would recommend considering a subpoena.”

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While most Republicans called the hearing and attack against DeJoy a political stunt, it’s important to note that 26 GOP lawmakers also voted on Saturday and Democrats to pass the financial bill. 

“This is a political stunt,” said ranking member Rep. James Comer (R-KY) during the hearing. “I am disappointed by the hysterical frenzy whipped up by our colleagues and their friends in the media.”

Some Democrats asked DeJoy if he agreed with Trump when the president called the USPS a joke, he responded by saying that he did not agree with the president. 

Before Rep. Ocasio-Cortez ran out of time, she asked DeJoy one more question that she said would be a personal request from her constituents in Queens. 

 “I represent New York 14th congressional district, we have written the agency several times regarding accessibility for a ramp in our historic Jackson Heights Post Office and I would greatly appreciate a return correspondence to make sure that we can ensure that are disabled and elderly a constituents can get access to the post office and thank you very much.”

Watch the hearing below.

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