US Rep. Jim Cooper calls for US Postmaster General to step down

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tennessee Congressman Jim Cooper has called for U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to step down.

Cooper made the remarks Thursday during a stop at the Northeast Post Office on Dickerson Pike.

During the press conference, the congressman said it is time for the postmaster general to step aside.

"Nothing would make me happier because we need a nonpolitical appointee, a logistics professional that doesn't have conflicts of interest that's on the side of the post office," Cooper said.

Last week, Cooper urged Speaker Nancy Pelosi to bring House members back from recess to investigate whether the Trump administration is deliberately trying to impede the U.S. Post Office during an election.

"We didn't anticipate a postmaster general would be against the post office, but now we have to take into account these strange times and these drastic measures that need to be taken to protect our own mail delivery," Cooper said.

Read more: Congressman wants urgent House investigation of Post Office, arrest Postmaster General if necessary

DeJoy, a longtime ally and donor to President Donald Trump, took over as Postmaster General in June. Since that time, he's instituted several changes that customers and workers have said have led to delays in mail delivery, including the elimination of overtime.

"I want to be perfectly clear, I'm not faulting anyone in Tennessee working in these post offices, they are doing an awesome job. But I am faulting their top management in Washington D.C., specifically Postmaster General Louis DeJoy," Cooper said. "That means good employees in places like this have been told to leave the mail on the floor."

On Tuesday, DeJoy announced that the USPS would not implement operational changes to mail delivery until after the election.

DeJoy is expected to testify Friday in a U.S. Senate committee hearing. He will also testify before the House next week.

*The Scripps National Desk contributed to this report.