Associated Press: Wake County won’t pursue criminal complaint of Louis DeJoy

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Wake County’s District Attorney’s Office has decided not to pursue a criminal investigation into allegations that U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy reimbursed former employees for political donations prior to taking up his government post.

DeJoy, the former CEO of North Carolina-based New Breed Logistics, was accused last year by some former employees of encouraging them to make political donations to candidates and then reimbursing them through bonuses. DeJoy began serving as the U.S. Postal Service’s chief executive officer in June 2020.

Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said her office, having reviewed campaign finance reports, will not open a criminal investigation. She said she did not believe her office had jurisdiction to examine the matter, as it was more a matter of federal election law. …

The review was prompted by a complaint filed by advocacy group Common Cause NC with the State Board of Elections.

“We filed our complaint with the State Board of Elections in light of a fundraising scheme allegedly perpetrated by Mr. DeJoy that has the appearance of illicitly bypassing North Carolina’s campaign finance limits,” Bob Phillips of Common Cause said in an email statement Monday.

“We have full confidence that the State Board of Elections will conduct a thorough investigation into these serious allegations against Mr. DeJoy, and we look forward to learning the results of that investigation when it is concluded,” the statement said.