Congresswoman Adams Calls for Investigation into U.S. Census Bureau Hiring Practices

Washington, DC — Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) led a bipartisan letter to the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Commerce expressing concerns about the background check and hiring practices at the U.S. Census Bureau in light of the Charlotte regional office's employment of Kenneth Mabry, a registered sex offender. Congresswoman Adams was joined on the letter by Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), and Representatives David Price (NC-4), G.K. Butterfield (NC-1), and Ted Budd (NC-13).

"The Bureau's failure to adequately investigate Mr. Mabry's background allowed a registered sex offender to occupy a position of public trust and receive a salary funded by our tax dollars for nearly one year," The letter stated.

A 2018 report from the Office of the Inspector General raised concerns that the Census Bureau was not prepared for the 2020 Census and warned that "applicants who may be unqualified or unfit may nonetheless pass a background check."

The letter called for an immediate investigation into the hiring and vetting practices at the Charlotte regional office to determine what screening process was utilized and asked the Office of the Inspector General to "outline what immediate and long-term steps must be taken to ensure the egregious mistake does not occur again."