News from the world of politics

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is facing increased scrutiny as House Democrats investigate allegations that he encouraged employees at his former business to contribute to Republican candidates and then reimbursed them in the guise of bonuses, a violation of campaign finance laws. Five people who worked for DeJoy's former company, New Breed Logistics, say they were urged by DeJoy's aides or by DeJoy himself to write checks and attend fundraisers at his mansion in Greensboro, N.C., the Washington Post reported. Two former employees told the newspaper that DeJoy would later give bigger bonuses to reimburse for the contributions.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, under pressure from GOP senators in tough re-election races, said Tuesday that the Senate would vote on a trimmed-down Republican coronavirus relief package, though it has a slim chance of passage in the face of Democrats' insistence for more sweeping aid. The GOP leader acknowledged the package is far less than what Democrats are seeking.

President Donald Trump has discussed spending as much as $100 million of his own money on his re-election campaign, if necessary, to beat Democratic nominee Joe Biden, according to people familiar with the matter. The billionaire president has talked about the idea with several people, though he hasn't yet committed to any self-funding, according to people briefed on internal deliberations. Trump personally contributed $66 million to his 2016 campaign, but it would be unprecedented for an incumbent president to spend his own money on winning a second term.

The report that President Donald Trump made crude, disparaging remarks about Nelson Mandela, South Africa's Nobel Peace Prize-winning former leader, has drawn an angry response from South Africa's ruling party and others. According to a book written by Michael Cohen, Trump's former personal lawyer, Trump said that Mandela, who guided South Africa in its transition from a racist apartheid government to a democracy, was a terrible leader.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's administration announced Tuesday that it is using federal coronavirus relief funds to pay for a $5 million tourism ad campaign aimed at drawing people to the state, even as it emerges as one of the nation's top hot spots for COVID-19 infections. The state currently ranks second in the country for new cases per capita over the last two weeks, with 439 new cases per 100,000 people. Health officials across 12 states have also found more than 300 people with infections who attended the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, including a Minnesota man who died.

President Donald Trump expanded a ban on new offshore drilling Tuesday, an election-year reversal likely to appeal to voters in Florida and other coastal states. Two years ago, Trump had taken steps to vastly expand offshore drilling from coast to coast.