The Honorable John M. Barger United States Postal Service Board of Governors 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW Washington, D.C. 20260 August 20, 2020 Dear Governor Barger, We are writing to you regarding your role in the selection process for a new Postmaster General to replace the 74th Postmaster General, Megan Brennan, following the fulfillment of her five-year term. It is our understanding that you influenced the selection of the current Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy. As you know, the executive hiring firm Russell Reynolds Associates was contracted to research and recommend a candidate to the United States Postal Service (USPS) Board of Governors for the position of Postmaster General. [1] According to individuals familiar with the process, Mr. Louis DeJoy was never recommended by this firm but was rather introduced by you to the selection committee. [2] It would have been irregular for a member of the USPS Board of Governors, such as yourself, to recommend Mr. DeJoy without the consultation, research, or support of the contracted hiring firm Russell Reynolds Associates. When you were asked about any reservations that Former Inspector General of the USPS and Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors, David Williams, may have had with the selection process of Mr. Louis DeJoy you were quoted in an article stating that you, “never heard an objection from David Williams about any of the candidates, other than the ones we did not hire.” [3] In response to this claim made by you, our staff contacted David Williams who stated, “I had expressed concerns after each of the interviews with Mr. Louis DeJoy. I urged that a background 1 Schumer, Chuck. Letter to Robert M. Duncan. (August 19, 2020) (online at https://www.democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/CES%20to%20USPS%20Board%208.20.pdf) 2 Office of Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Correspondence with Former USPS Officials. (August 19, 2020) 3 Decision to Halt Postal Changes Does Little to Quell Election Concerns. New York Times. (August 19, 2020) (online at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/19/business/economy/postal-service-changes-dejoy.html) investigation be conducted. And when I resigned, I cited it as one of my reasons for submitting my resignation to Chairman Robert Duncan.” [4] Given your extensive record of making financial contributions to Republican Party officials, several of which have been made while you were a sitting member of the USPS Board of Governors, [5][6] we request the following information about any possible coordination you may have had with political entities when recommending Mr. Louis DeJoy to the selection committee: 1. Did you recommend Mr. Louis DeJoy for the role of Postmaster General to the selection committee without possessing or being aware of any information, research, or suggestions provided by Russell Reynolds Associates? 2. Did Russell Reynolds Associates have the opportunity to recommend other candidates before or after your recommendation, and if so, were these candidates considered in addition to Mr. Louis DeJoy? 3. Did the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governor Chairman Robert Duncan suggest or request that you recommend Mr. Louis DeJoy to the Postmaster General selection committee? 4. Did you discuss the recommendation of Mr. Louis DeJoy for Postmaster General with any Republican Party officials or individuals involved with these entities? 5. Did you discuss the recommendation of Mr. Louis DeJoy for Postmaster General with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin or any of his staff members? 6. Did Former Inspector General of the USPS David Williams raise concerns about the selection process for Mr. Louis DeJoy? We request written answers to the above questions by August 27th, 2020. Please contact our staff liaisons Hugh Daly (Hugh.Daly@mail.house.gov), Brian Kaissi (Brian.Kaissi@mail.house.gov), and Jessica Seigel (Jessica.Seigel@mail.house.gov) with any questions you may have about this request. 4 Office of Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Correspondence with Former USPS IG and Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors David Williams. (August 20, 2020) 5 GOP and Trump ties run deep on the U.S. Postal Service’s board of governors. CNBC. (August 18, 2020) (online at https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/18/gop-and-trump-ties-run-deep-on-the-us-postal-services-board-ofgovernors.html) 6 Federal Election Commission. Itemized Reciept of John McLeod Barger donation to Republican National Committee. (December 17, 2020) (online at https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202001319185131647) Sincerely, ___________________ Raja Krishnamoorthi Member of Congress ___________________ Katie Porter Member of Congress