A United States Postal Service (USPS) employee is under investigation after allegedly discarding approximately 300 political mailers supporting Republican Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. in a dumpster outside a Pennsylvania grocery store. The incident, first reported by the New Jersey Globe, has raised concerns over election mail integrity and prompted an official response from USPS, which has referred the case to its internal investigative agencies.
Footage obtained by the Globe reportedly shows a woman dressed in a USPS uniform pulling up to a dumpster in the parking lot of a ShopRite in Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania. In the video, she appears to toss several items into the dumpster.
The Daily Caller writes:
“We saw her dump it,” an official for the security company used by the Shop-Rite in Brodheadsville where the dumpster is located told the outlet.
The campaign mailers for Kean were meant to be delivered to voters in Succasunna of Roxbury Township, Morris County, New Jersey, according to the Globe. The area is reportedly one of the most heavily Republican municipalities in New Jersey’s 7th district.
“We have a license plate. She has a Pennsylvania plate, but it looks like the mail’s from Jersey,” a person appears to say in the video.
USPS spokesperson Xavier Hernandez told the Globe that “the Postal Service is aware of the allegation of mishandled mail.”
“We have full confidence in our more than 640,000 employees who are committed and actively working to deliver the nation’s election mail securely and in a timely manner,” Hernandez said. “We have referred this incident to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and have nothing further to offer.”
Kean responded to the news, expressing concern over the potential impact on voters. “I believe in the security of our elections and voting by mail, but this incident is deeply troubling. I hope the USPS acts swiftly to resolve whatever crimes have been committed, and I urge them to be open and transparent about the specifics of this incident,” he told The Globe. “Protecting the integrity of our democracy is imperative.
The alleged mishandling of election mail has added a new dimension to the already contentious race in New Jersey’s 7th District. Kean, who has a substantial Republican base in areas like Morris County, relies heavily on targeted campaign materials to reach and energize his supporters. This incident has raised questions about the role of mail delivery in the democratic process, especially with political campaigns increasingly relying on mailers as an outreach tool.
The USPS emphasized its commitment to election mail security and urged patience as the investigation unfolds. The U.S. Postal Service has not provided additional comments beyond Hernandez’s statement, but the incident has prompted a public outcry for transparency and accountability, particularly in a time when election security remains a highly sensitive issue in the U.S.
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