Postage Bandit — Sources

The 2025 House Communications Standards Manual (published by the House Committee on House Administration) governs all official congressional communications paid for with public funds. It prohibits campaign content, electioneering, fundraising, political endorsements, and any content that disparages individuals. The manual states: official communications “critical of policy may not be personalized or politicized, and may not be used to disparage… individuals.”

The Hageman mailing describes critics as “fearmongering radicals” who are “conveniently fundraising off their dishonesty.” Those phrases appear to fall within the manual’s prohibited categories of disparagement and politicized official communication.

The complaint is the primary source. It is an official filing submitted to the Federal Election Commission.

The mailing itself is the source. The footer states: "PAID FOR BY OFFICIAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES."

The USPS franking statute (39 U.S.C. § 3210(a)(6)(D)) includes a pre-election blackout provision for official mass mailings. The FEC complaint cites a 90-day window, placing the start at on or about May 19, 2026. The mailing was received June 12, 2026, and estimated to have entered the postal system June 2–9— within that window if the 90-day interpretation applies.

Note: The applicable window length (60 vs. 90 days under various provisions) is a point of legal interpretation. Do not present the blackout claim as settled; present it as an additional concern raised in the complaint. The cleaner primary ground is the Communications Standards Manual, which applies regardless of timing.

This is an estimate derived from Wyoming household counts and USPS congressional nonprofit/franked mail postage rates. The exact cost will be a matter of public record through the FEC process and House administrative disclosures. The range reflects uncertainty in the total piece count. Do not cite as a confirmed figure.