Former Rep. Anthony D'Esposito, R-N.Y., speaks alongside House Republicans during a press conference at Columbia University on April 24, 2024, in New York City. President Donald Trump has nominated D'Esposito to be inspector general of the Labor Department. Alex Kent / Getty Images
Former GOP congressman nominated to independent watchdog role
Anthony D’Esposito, a retired NYPD detective, served on the House Homeland Security, Transportation and Infrastructure and Administration committees and introduced several measures concerning law enforcement issues during his one term.
Donald Trump nominated a former Republican congressman to be inspector general for the Labor Department, the president’s first IG announcement since his purge of the independent agency watchdogs shortly after Inauguration Day.
Anthony D’Esposito, whose nomination was publicized late Monday along with Trump’s picks for other senior DOL positions, lost his reelection race in November after representing a Long Island, N.Y., district for one term.
While in Congress, D’Esposito didn’t focus on labor issues. The retired NYPD detective served on the House Homeland Security, Transportation and Infrastructure and Administration committees and introduced several measures concerning law enforcement issues.
He also was the first member of the House GOP to call for scandal-plagued former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., to resign.
Ahead of D’Esposito’s reelection, The New York Times reported that he may have violated House ethics rules by hiring his fiancee’s daughter as well as a woman with whom he was having an affair.
IGs are supposed to be appointed without regard to political affiliation and based on integrity and ability in: accounting, auditing, financial analysis; law, management analysis, public administration; or investigations.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which will vote on D’Esposito’s nomination, did not respond to a request for comment.
A spokesperson for Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., ranking member on the HELP committee, said that he does not comment on nominations ahead of hearings.
Neither Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, a longtime IG defender, nor Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, who recently launched a bipartisan Inspector General Caucus, responded to requests for comment.