The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Postmaster General Louis DeJoy in connection to his past political fundraising activities.
The story: Investigators in recent weeks have spoken with former and current employees of DeJoy and the business. During the interviews, they asked about company activities and political contributions. They also subpoenaed DeJoy himself, some sources told the Washington Post, which first reported on the probe.
Mark Corallo, a DeJoy spokesman, confirmed the investigation in a statement, saying the DOJ is looking into campaign contributions that employees made when DeJoy was in the private sector. Corallo insisted that DeJoy never knowingly violated campaign contribution laws.
“Mr. DeJoy has learned that the Department of Justice is investigating campaign contributions made by employees who worked for him when he was in the private sector,” Corallo told Fox.
“He has always been scrupulous in his adherence to the campaign contribution laws and has never knowingly violated them,” Corallo continued.
“Mr. DeJoy fully cooperated with and answered the questions posed by Congress regarding these matters. The same is true of the Postal Service Inspector General’s inquiry which after a thorough investigation gave Mr. DeJoy a clean bill of health on his disclosure and divestment issues. He expects nothing less in this latest matter and he intends to work with DOJ toward swiftly resolving it,” he added.
Last year, the Washington Post reported that employees at the company were asked to donate to Republican candidates and were reimbursed via bonuses.
District Attorney Lorrin Freeman who looked into the matter and said she will not launch an investigation, explained in a statement: “Our review of state finance campaign reports did not provide sufficient indications of a pattern of improper contributions to open a state criminal investigation. Allegations of illegal political contributions to federal candidates are not within our jurisdiction and are appropriately reviewed by federal authorities if the evidence so warrants.”
DeJoy has previously rejected allegations that he had engaged in illegal activities.
Meanwhile, campaign finance records obtained by the Associated Press showed that Joe Hauck, who served as vice president of sales and marketing for DeJoy’s New Breed Logistics, received $3,000 by the Republican National Committee in August for “management consulting.”
DeJoy personally contributed $1.1 million to former President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign and the Republican Party, the publication says.
