New York
Related: About this forumStefanik campaign seeks postal probe of nearly $20,000 in missing mail contributions - Post Star
Nearly $20,000 in checks for campaign contributions to U.S. Rep. Elise, R-Schuylerville, went missing in the mail in what the Stefanik campaign says was a targeted theft.
Lawyers for the Stefanik campaign have asked Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to investigate.
Given the systemic nature of this serious problem, Congresswoman Stefanik and Elise for Congress feel compelled to elevate this issue to you, Michael Toner and Brandis Zehr of the law from Wiley Rein wrote to LeJoy on Thursday. Our clients hereby demand that USPS provide the following information in writing by close of business December 8, 2022: (1) a list of all concrete actions taken by USPS to investigate these thefts; (2) the particular steps that USPS will take to ensure that Elise for Congress will not be the victim of mail theft in the future; and (3) a list of the actions that USPS will take to more effectively prevent, detect and prosecute mail theft both in New Yorks 21st Congressional District and nationwide.
The thefts, which Stefaniks campaign announced Friday, occurred on four occasions in June and November.
Envelopes of checks mailed from Stefaniks campaign office at Glens Falls to the campaign treasurer in Washington were received ripped open and damaged, with the checks missing.
Letters from the U.S. Postal Service confirmed the theft of contents, Alex DeGrasse, a senior adviser to Stefanik, said Saturday.
Their words, not ours, he said.
This mail theft resulted in the loss of nearly $20,000 in campaign contributions but also and more alarmingly has exposed hundreds of Congresswoman Stefaniks campaign supporters to potential identity theft or financial fraud, the Stefanik campaign said in a news release.
DeGrasse said that hundreds of donors were affected.
As far as the campaign knows, no one has attempted to cash any of the missing checks, he said.
The U.S. Postal Service recovered the opened, damaged packages in Memphis, according to the campaign lawyers, who wrote that the Stefanik campaign is disappointed with actions taken so far to address the situation.
Although the USPS Office of the Inspector General is investigating the mail theft, they indicated it would be difficult to identify the USPS employees or contractors who perpetrated these crimes unless and until one or more of Elise for Congresss supporters becomes the victim of identity theft or financial fraud, the lawyers wrote.
The lawyers wrote that postal investigators promised months ago to provide a report of the June theft, but have not done so: It is unacceptable that USPS has repeatedly allowed these targeted thefts to occur and cannot identify who committed the thefts, let alone where or how the thefts occurred.
(Short article, no more at link): https://poststar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/stefanik-campaign-seeks-postal-probe-of-nearly-20-000-in-missing-mail-contributions/article_c1c7b00e-7413-11ed-a422-a763c5c2d74a.html
TexasTowelie
(116,799 posts)At least I know that you aren't going to become the victim of identity theft or financial fraud due to these incidents at the USPS.
Rhiannon12866
(222,216 posts)And she expects DeJoy to get to the bottom of it!
Think I may have mentioned - got this from the husband of my friend who ran for State Senate - that not only did she announce her victory early in in the evening at a gathering of Republicans at a local hotel (along with the big jerk who was the incumbent Republican State Senate candidate ), but she also endorsed TFG for 2024!
I also haven't heard that she moved yet, due to redistricting, she no longer lives in NY-21.
RSherman
(576 posts)I unfortunately live in her district. Ugh. She is so awful. Anyway, you're right. She does NOT live in 21. She claimed she would move. Matt Castelli DOES live in the district (her Dem opponent) and she kept referring to him as a downstate carpet bagger.
bucolic_frolic
(46,995 posts)Or against postal workers' union?
Anyone can mail damaged mail. USPS should have scans of these as originally sent. Should DeJoy conduct the investigation? Gumshoes Sam and Clarence are not available?
Rhiannon12866
(222,216 posts)She doesn't work for her constituents, she refused to publicize her schedule since she knew that protesters would show up. And when she held a rare telephone "town hall," she blocked any questions or statements that were critical of her. Not to mention that after redistricting, she no longer lives in the district. It's all about her ambition, not about the citizens she's supposed to represent.
nuxvomica
(12,882 posts)It doesn't seem very efficient, or secure, apparently. This whole thing smells wrong.
Rhiannon12866
(222,216 posts)My first campaign contribution, I think, was to Obama - and I contributed to him online and to anyone ever since. And of course it smells wrong, it's Stefanik.
Lovie777
(15,006 posts)especially GQP, by all means investigate.