Rep. Anthony D’Esposito Accused of Possible Ethics Violations

Rep. Anthony D’Esposito is facing accusations of ethics violations for employing an individual he allegedly had an inappropriate relationship with.

At a Glance

Rep. D’Esposito is accused of giving jobs to a woman he had an affair with and his fiancée’s daughter.
House ethics rules may have been violated.
The affair allegedly began around 2021, and the fiancée’s daughter was hired after D’Esposito’s election in 2022.
D’Esposito has dismissed the allegations as partisan attacks.

Allegations of Misconduct

Representative Anthony D’Esposito, a New York Republican, has been accused in a New York Times report of hiring individuals with whom he had personal relationships. The report indicates D’Esposito employed both a woman he was engaged in an inappropriate relationship with, Devin Faas, and his fiancée’s daughter in his district office, raising potential violations of House ethics rules.

Initially elected in 2022, D’Esposito reportedly brought his fiancée’s daughter on board as a special assistant with a salary of approximately $3,800 a month. In April, he is reported to have added Faas to the payroll for a part-time position receiving $2,000 a month. Payroll records confirm the employment and payment details, per NYT.

Representative Anthony D’Esposito, a New York Republican, gave part-time jobs in his district office to both his lover and his fiancée’s daughter, in possible violation of House ethics rules. https://t.co/EmzFY6hhOn

— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 23, 2024

Ethics and Employment Practices

House ethics rules explicitly prohibit members from engaging in intimate relationships with employees under their supervision. Additionally, employing relatives, including stepchildren, breaches congressional ethical standards. These alleged actions call into question D’Esposito’s adherence to established guidelines and his commitment to ethical conduct.

The New York Times says it spoke to multiple anonymous sources familiar with the matter who said Faas and D’Esposito had an affair. Derek W. Ciaschi, Faas’s ex-husband, also reportedly said that it played a role in the collapse of their marriage. Text messages between the Faas and D’Esposito reportedly corroborate these allegations.

D’Esposito’s Response and Political Future

D’Esposito has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, labeling the accusations as partisan attacks aimed at distracting from critical issues like border security and economic policies. He dismissed the allegations as an attempt by the opposition to tarnish his reputation ahead of a re-election campaign against Democrat Laura Gillen.

“My personal life has never interfered with my ability to deliver results for New York’s 4th district, and I have upheld the highest ethical standards of personal conduct. Voters deserve better than the Times’ gutter politics,” he said in a statement.

The New York Post contacted the House Ethics Committee for comment. It is still unclear what the long-term impact of these allegations will be.