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Post Published: Dec 4, 2020

Comer: Calif. Sec. of State Padilla Has a “Lot of Questions that Need to Be Answered”

Comer joins America’s Newsroom to Discuss Concerns Over $35 M Contract to Pro-Biden Firm Amid Rumors Regarding Padilla’s Potential Senate Appointment

WASHINGTON—House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) joined Fox News on America’s Newsroom today to discuss the letter he and other Republican leaders sent to Election Assistance Commission Inspector General Patricia Layfield regarding the $35 million contract California Secretary of State Alex Padilla awarded to SKD Knickerbocker (SKD), a pro-Biden firm, to contact voters.

Republicans have demanded answers from Secretary Padilla, and since he has failed to respond to their questions, they are again encouraging the inspector general to investigate.

In the interview Ranking Member Comer stated, “[The investigation] basically involves Secretary of State Padilla awarding a no-bid, $35 million contract, to SKD Knickerbocker, which is Joe Biden’s main advisory firm that he used in his presidential campaign. They awarded this contract so that they could micro-target voters to get out the vote.

“First of all, it was a no-bid contract, which is completely illegal and unethical.

“Secondly, you’re not allowed to use taxpayer dollars to micro-target voters to get out the vote.

“Thirdly, the firm is a partisan firm. So, there are three instances of major violations.

“We’ve asked Secretary Padilla to further explain his actions, and, thus far, he has refused to do so.”

Watch the full interview here.

When asked about whether this was the return of the Swamp, Ranking Member Comer said, “This is the return of the swamp. . . The legislators in California General Assembly have been debating about this, and the California Comptroller, yesterday, refused to pay the $34.5 million dollar bill that SKD Knickerbocker sent to Secretary State Padilla. So, what I’m asking for, now, is not only answers, but also a return of that $35 million, in taxpayer funds, back to the Treasury. . . We’ve clearly caught the Secretary of State violating taxpayer trust.”

“This is a partisan firm, you showed that on your television, and those taxpayer dollars should not be sent to that Joe-Biden-firm. They should be sent back to Washington.”

When asked about where this investigation may go, Ranking Member Comer said, “[Sec. of State Padilla] needs to answer this question now. If he is in fact the person that Governor Newsom selects to replace Kamala Harris in the Senate, then he’s going to have to answer this before the Senate Ethics Committee. So, he might as well answer these questions now. . . He’s got a lot of questions that need to be answered, and we’re not going to let up on this investigation.”