TPMMuckraker

Postal Service Probing RNC ‘Census’ Mailer

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

The U.S. Postal Service is investigating the RNC’s deceptive “Census” fundraising mailer, a spokesman tells TPMmuckraker.

Last night, Congressional Democrats sent a letter to Postmaster General John Potter, urging him to probe whether the mailer violates a law passed last month aimed at banning such mailers.

This afternoon, USPS spokesman Gerald McKiernan told TPMmuckraker: “The letter has been received. It’s in the hands of our inspection service and they are reviewing the matter right now.” McKiernan added that the review is “in its preliminary stages.”

The RNC has said it determined its mailer is legal under the new law. Rep. Darell Issa (R-CA) is working on new legislation aimed at closing any loophole which might have rendered the mailer legal, his spokesman told TPMmuckraker earlier today.

And Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), a co-sponsor of last month’s law, today sent a letter to RNC chair Michael Steele urging him to put an end to the lucrative mailer, which Chaffetz called “deceptive and misleading.”

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