Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY) maintained Monday that he has “upheld the highest ethical standards” after a report claimed the Lengthy Island congressman employed an alleged mistress to work in his district workplace.
The New York Occasions reported that D’Esposito, 42, paid Devin Fass – the lady he was allegedly having an affair with – $2,000 a month to work half time in his Backyard Metropolis, NY, workplace a couple of months after taking his oath of workplace as a congressman, a number of sources informed the outlet.
Funds to Faas, who was employed in April 2023, led to July of that 12 months – across the identical time D’Esposito’s fiancée discovered in regards to the supposed affair and briefly broke up with him, in response to the New York Occasions.
Home guidelines ban lawmakers from participating “in a sexual relationship with any employee of the House who works under the supervision of the member.”
In one other potential violation of Home ethics guidelines, D’Esposito additionally reportedly employed his longtime fiancée’s daughter, Tessa Lark, to work in his 4th District workplace, paying her about $3,800 a month to take the gig.
Members of Congress are prohibited from using spouses or relations, together with stepchildren, underneath the congressional code of ethics.
“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,” D’Esposito mentioned in a press release to The Put up.
“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,” the previous NYPD detective added. “Voters deserve better than the Times’ gutter politics.”
The New York Occasions reviews that D’Esposito’s relationship with Faas, 38, started round 2021 and continued into the congressman’s first time period in workplace, which began in January 2023.
“Love you till Monday,” Faas wrote to the congressman in a summer time 2022 textual content message reviewed by the outlet, together with a coronary heart emoji.
“So much,” D’Esposito replied. “SO SO.”
The reported tryst was critical sufficient that it resulted in Faas’ husband submitting for divorce close to the tip of D’Esposito’s 2022 midterm election marketing campaign.
“It’s no one’s business,” Cynthia Lark, the congressman’s fiancée, informed the New York Occasions when requested about D’Esposito’s relationship with Faas.
Lark, who has been courting the Lengthy Island Republican since round 2010, famous that the alleged affair was “a very hurtful time in my life” and “a family matter.”
She was additionally adamant that “there are no ethical questions” relating to her daughter Tessa’s employment in D’Esposito’s district workplace.
D’Esposito, a susceptible Home Republican, should defeat Democrat Laura Gillen in November as a way to maintain his 4th District seat within the decrease chamber.
D’Esposito’s Nassau County district, which incorporates the communities of Elmont, Backyard Metropolis, Hempstead, Uniondale and Lengthy Seashore, backed President Biden by 14 factors over former President Donald Trump within the 2020 election.
The Put up has reached out to the Home Ethics Committee employees for remark.
