A Republican congressman from New York who narrowly won his seat in 2022 put his fiancee’s daughter and a woman with whom he was having an affair on his payroll, according to a New York Times investigation on Monday.
Anthony D’Esposito, who represents part of Long Island in the US House, paid the two women a total of about $29,000 for their employment, according to the Times. Both payments abruptly stopped in July 2023 when his fiancee found out about his affair and briefly broke up with him.
Congressional code of conduct rules forbid employing family, including stepchildren, and engaging in sexual relationships with employees under the supervision of a US House member.
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D’Esposito employed Tessa Lark, the daughter of the congressman’s fiancee, Cynthia Lark, when he first took office in January 2023. Lark worked part-time and provided the congressman with graphic design and photography, along with helping constituents on immigration issues, multiple anonymous former House employees told the Times.
Cynthia Lark said that the affair was “a very hurtful time in my life” and “it’s no one’s business”.
“There are no ethical questions regarding her employment,” Lark said about her daughter.
Meanwhile, three months after he took office, D’Esposito put Devin Faas, a secretary for the town government of Hempstead, where the congressman is based, on to his payroll in March 2023.
Former House employees told the Times that while it appeared Faas had a romantic relationship with D’Esposito, it was unclear whether it was sexual in nature, as prohibited by House rules.
While on payroll, Faas held her full-time job at the town of Hempstead. She was paid to serve as a “liaison to the office” of D’Esposito, helping him get contact information for local schools and libraries, the congressman’s office told the Times. But former House employees familiar with D’Esposito’s office said they did not know Faas worked for the congressman, bringing into question whether he hired her as what is considered a “ghost employee” – another potential ethical violation.
The House’s ethics committee would be in charge of investigating D’Esposito if a case is brought forward.
In a statement to the New York Post, D’Esposito said he has “upheld the highest ethical standard of personal conduct”.
“The latest political tabloid garbage being peddled by the New York Times is nothing more than a slimy, partisan ‘hit piece’ designed to distract Long Islanders from Democrats’ failing record on border security, the economy and foreign policy,” he said.
D’Esposito’s district, on the western edge of Long Island that borders Queens, has been historically Democratic, with a majority of voters in the district supporting Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden in the last two presidential elections.
His win in 2022 was largely seen as an upset. D’Esposito won 51.8% of the vote against his Democratic opponent, Laura Gillen, who is running against D’Esposito again this election.
House Republicans have a slim four-seat majority in the House, making the upcoming election a toss-up as to which party can win control of the chamber.
