Postal Service disputes election-threat claims

PHILADELPHIA » Lawyers for the U.S. Postal Service argued in court Thursday against accusations that service cuts are slowing down the mail and threatening the integrity of the presidential election.

The latest hearing on the issue took place in federal court in Philadelphia, where the attorneys general fromsix states and theDistrict of Columbia have sued.

They argue that on-time delivery dropped sharply in July and has not fully rebounded as the nation battles a pandemic and prepares for an election that could hinge on mailin ballots.

“There was a sharp dip in early July that hasn’t rebounded to where it was, even today,” Deputy Attorney General Aimee D. Thomson of Pennsylvania argued.

Judges in Washington state and New York have issued emergency orders this month in similar cases. The others states involved in Thursday’s hearing are California, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts and North Carolina.

Lawyers for the Postal Service say headquarters never ordered a slowdown or overtime ban. However, upon questioning fromthe judge, they conceded that local postalmanagersmay have misconstrued the guidance from Washington and thought the stated goal of reducing overtime was actually a mandate.

The state officials said that on-time delivery of first- class mail fell 10% from July to August, aggravating and even endangering customers who rely on mail delivery for food, medications and other essentials.