Edward McKinley is reporting for the Times Union state Attorney General Letitia James August 25, took legal action against President Donald Trump, the U.S. Postal Service and the postmaster general for what she claims is their unlawful plan to slow down the mail to repress mail-in votes in the coming general election to help Republicans win. “This USPS slowdown is nothing more than a voter suppression tactic,” James said in a statement. “Yet, this time, these authoritarian actions are not only jeopardizing our democracy and fundamental right to vote, but the immediate health and financial well-being of Americans across the nation. ...” The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., and other plaintiffs include state attorneys general from New Jersey and Hawaii as well as the cities of San Francisco and New York City. The civil complaint alleges the postal service made various policy changes that led to delays in mail, including cutting overtime, removing collection boxes and removing high-speed mail-sorting machines. The goal of those changes is to slow down the mail service and hurt Democratic electoral prospects in November, the plaintiffs allege. More Americans than ever are expected to vote by mail this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. House of Representatives approved a measure last week allocating $25 billion to the postal service with 26 Republicans joining the Democratic majority. U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, an Amsterdam Democrat, was a co-sponsor of that bill. Read the full story in the Times Union.