CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Democrats in the Illinois congressional delegation from the Chicago area are asking for a criminal investigation into what they see as the Trump Administration’s effort to tamper with the election by slowing mail delivery.
They are demanding that Republicans support funding for the postal service ahead of a vote on Saturday.
"We stand here today in opposition of the President's efforts to sabotage the United States Postal Service to aid his reelection," said Congressman Mike Quigley outside the Chicago postal service headquarters.
"The inscription on the post office: neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. It does not say 'unless it hurts the President's reelection.'"
Quigley said the President, and Lewis DeJoy, his campaign-donor Postmaster General, are sabotaging the postal service for the President’s own political gain.
Congressman Danny Davis said "Mike used the word sabotage. I am going to use the word gangster," stating the President is like a gangster, "playing Al Capone with the Postal Service."
Congressman Brad Schneider said it's "despicable."
Congressman Danny Davis added that it is "criminal intent."
Downstate Republican Congressman Rodney Davis said in a statement, “We need to do everything we can to make sure employees of the USPS have all the resources they need to do their jobs.”
Other members of the delegation noted that they're hearing from constituents with mail complaints, including late deliveries of medications, checks and bills that are adversely affecting their lives.
Congress will be in session on Saturday for a vote on a bill called the "Delivering for America Act," which would reverse cuts and work-rule changes imposed by DeJoy that have slowed the delivery of the mail, already impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Trump opposes funding the postal service.