A group of Democratic state attorneys general is now in the final stages of preparing legal action against the Trump administration for recent cost-cutting changes to the United States Postal Service, a lawsuit that one official said required a stop to cuts that could hinder post-in vote.
As many as 10 state attorneys general are now involved, two state officials involved in the effort told ABC News. Among them is Letitia James of New York, who called recent changes at the postal agency “deeply disturbing” in a statement released Monday.
“I, along with numerous other state attorneys general from across the country, are now rapidly examining any legal option to protect the postal service and the right of Americans to vote absent,” James said.
The package is expected to meet two major constitutional challenges for the recent cuts, according to one of the officials, a State Attorney. States will state that the federal government is trying to restrict their constitutional right to control their own elections. And they will argue that the Trump administration is interfering with every individual right of every American to participate in the election.
The lawsuit will also claim that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy failed to follow administrative procedures when he made cuts to overtime and dismissal equipment – steps the states will ask the courts to stop, the lawyer said.
Some of the elected officials concerned sought to withhold more details about the lawsuit, which the two sources said they could land as early as Tuesday.
“I will not abandon our entire strategy,” Connecticut Attorney General William Tong told MSNBC on Monday morning. “But we have a plan to address the counter-repairs that have already happened.”
Attorneys General from Connecticut and New York have joined a growing list of state leaders, including those from Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Minnesota and Washington – all Democrats – in discussions about how they can run the administration. submitted, said sources. Those conversations continue.
Asked about the impending trial, Sarah Matthews of the White House dismissed it.
“Politically motivated lawsuits are not rooted in giving Americans the power to vote,” Matthews said in a statement to ABC News. “While Democrats spread groundless conspiracy theories about the Trump administration’s support for the USPS to score political points, President Trump will continue to work to ensure the security and integrity of our elections.”
The United States Postal Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, a Democrat, said his office was overwhelmed with letters and calls to raise concerns about the potential for cuts at the Post Office to curb voting.
“Trump attacks on the postal service are designed to disrupt the election,” Frosh said. “They are fighting at the heart of our democracy. That’s bad enough, but he and DeJoy also hurt innocent bystanders: Americans waiting for their medications or their Social Security checks. This behavior is harmful, illegal and unconstitutional. We will take the steps necessary to protect Marylanders. ”
With more Americans expected to vote by mail in the upcoming election than ever before, Democrats have raised issues with a series of austerity reforms introduced by DeJoy, a longtime Republican financier and Trump donor who was appointed in May.
Critics say these measures have delayed the postal service, raising questions about whether it is part of a concerted effort to undermine absenteeism – a platform that the president has repeated, and without proof, said would lead to election fraud.
President Trump denied Monday that he had tried to run for office before the election. “I have encouraged everyone to speed up the post, not to carry the post,” he said.
On Monday, House Democrats announced that DeJoy had agreed to testify before Congress on August 24.
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