Former Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY) has finally been confirmedas the Labor Department’s Inspector General — but Republicans and Democrats say he’s already thinking about his next job.
D’Esposito is desperate to reclaim his former Nassau County Congressional seat and has been campaigning in the 4th District, which he narrowly lost to Rep. Laura Gillen (D-NY) in 2024.
One plugged-in New York Republican source told The Post that he’s likely to be the GOP nominee for the Nassau County seat.
It’s “looking like it’ll be him,” said the source, as other GOP sources also confirmed D’Esposito’s name was in the mix.
“He wants it badly,” said a longtime Democratic fundraiser. “He’s expecting to be the Republican nominee. He’s all over the district campaigning.”
D’Esposito’s nomination to the influential investigative post finally advanced this week as part of an “en bloc” package of Trump nominees.
Senate Democrats had no luck stopping it, despite pointing to scandals that preceded D’Esposito’s November election defeat, including a bombshell 2024 report that he gave alleged mistress Devin Faas a $2,000-a-month job in his district office.
“Someone who faced misconduct allegations and put his mistress on the payroll is now a nominee? Give me a break!” railed Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) on the Senate floor this week.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) blasted D’Esposito during his confirmation hearing and slammed what he called a potential conflict of interest.
“We’re putting in someone in place who is also running for Congress, and not just in any position, but in a position where independence and objectivity are essential,” he told The Post. “The nomination is almost self-contradictory and self destructive and it demeans the position of IG.”
A D’Esposito spokesman declined comment. Trump fired D’Esposito’s predecessor in a purge of 17 IGs days after taking office.
Any D’Esposito run to reclaim his seat risks running afoul of the Hatch Act, which governs political activity for federal workers.
“All federal employees with the exception of the president and the vice president are prohibited from being candidates for partisan political office,” said Anna Galindo-Morone, chief of the Hatch Act unit at the Office of Special Counsel, speaking to The Post in general terms.
She said there was no provision for a waiver or a leave of absence that would cure the problem. There are limits to enforcement, however. A run for Congress could trigger a complaint or a probe which could result in a report that gets presented to the president.
That could result in removal, suspension, or a fine – but the decision to take disciplinary action is “up to the president,” she said.
Gillen, who defeated D’Esposito 51% to 49%, is considered one of the most vulnerable House Democratic incumbents in the country this year. The Cook Political Report rates her race as a tossup.
“Honored to be confirmed as Inspector General of the United States Department of Labor with a clear mission: strong enforcement, real accountability, and protecting American workers and taxpayers,” D’Esposito said after his confirmation.
“I’ll work shoulder-to-shoulder with career civilians and agents to root out fraud, waste, and abuse, combat labor and human trafficking, and enforce the law without fear or favor,” he said.
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