Rep. Jordan: Scrutiny of Trump-appointed Postmaster General a 'charade'

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) accused Democrats of partisanship on Wednesday over calls to remove Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, from his position, The Hill reports.

DeJoy has been widely criticized by Democrats for implementing cost-cutting measures at the US Postal Service in the months leading up to the 2020 presidential election and the holiday season. According to Democrats, the changes were made to undermine mail-in voting.

"You were the worst guy on the planet last time you were here. I just want to know what’s changed," Jordan said to DeJoy, with the Postmaster General responding that the country had an election.

Jordan argued that DeJoy faced excess scrutiny so that Democrats could lay the groundworks for mass mail-in voting, which Republicans opposed on the grounds that it could result in widespread voter fraud.

Jordan criticized Democrats for having "had protesters banging on pots and pans outside" of DeJoy's house last year, with many calling upon him to resign at the time.

Rep Gerry Connolly (D-VA) fired back at Jordan, suggesting that he was "gaslighting" with his remarks.

"The point is, it was Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, who was planting the idea, aided and abetted by disruptive changes proposed by a new postmaster general and a compliant board of governors that actually eroded public confidence in the ability to vote by mail," Connolly claimed.

"I didn't vote to overturn an election, and I will not be lectured by people who did about partisanship," Connolly continued.

Democrats have also charged that the cost-cutting measures undermine the mail service during the coronavirus pandemic, when Americans are more likely to have products delivered to them via the USPS. Democrats have argued that such measures caused widespread delays in mail service during the holiday season.

DeJoy dismissed these claims, however, arguing that air carrier underperformance and general "capacity challenges" is what caused such delays.

DeJoy nevertheless apologized for the delays.

"Too many Americans were left waiting for weeks for important deliveries of mail and packages. This is unacceptable and I apologize to those customers who felt the impact of our delays," the Postmaster General said. He also said that the postal service will "strive to do better in our service to the American people and we will do better."