Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, a Republican from New York, is under scrutiny for hiring both his fiancée’s daughter and an alleged romantic partner for part-time roles in his Long Island district office, with reports indicating he paid them nearly $30,000 in taxpayer funds in 2023.
This has raised questions regarding House ethics rules that generally prohibit lawmakers from employing close family members.
Despite not facing formal accusations of wrongdoing from the House Ethics Committee, the timing of this controversy is particularly sensitive as D’Esposito is in a competitive reelection battle in New York’s 4th Congressional District. In the 2022 election, he narrowly defeated Democrat Laura Gillen by under 10,000 votes in a swing district that both parties are eager to control.
D’Esposito defended his actions, describing the New York Times report as a “slimy, partisan hit piece” and insisting that he acted ethically.
Both women involved confirmed their employment to the Times. D’Esposito has positioned himself as a strong advocate for his constituents and has continued his campaign, expressing confidence in his reelection prospects.
House Speaker Mike Johnson also defended D’Esposito, labeling the report as partisan, although he admitted he had not discussed the matter with him directly.
This incident is particularly noteworthy given D’Esposito’s previous criticisms of fellow New Yorker George Santos, who faced scandal and legal troubles related to fabrications in his background and was expelled from the House last year.