D'Esposito embroiled in allegations he put ex-girlfriend on payroll

WASHINGTON — Rep. Anthony D’Esposito on Tuesday pushed back against a New York Times report alleging that he put both an alleged ex-girlfriend and the daughter of his longtime fiancee on his congressional payroll, as Democrats called for further investigation of allegations that could cross House ethics rules.

D’Esposito (R-Island Park), who is in a competitive race against Democrat Laura Gillen for New York’s fourth congressional district, called the article "political tabloid garbage" but did not deny any of its claims.

"My personal life has never interfered with my ability to deliver results for New York’s 4th district," D’Esposito said in a written statement, "and I have upheld the highest ethical standards of personal conduct,"

The Times on Monday reported that D’Esposito had an affair with a married woman, whom he later gave a $2,000-a-month part-time job at his Garden City district office. The report also indicates D’Esposito gave a $3,800-a-month job to the daughter of his longtime fiancee at the same office.

The Times cited three unnamed sources who it said were familiar with the extramarital affair between D’Esposito and Devin Faas, and cited her ex-husband who said the affair led to their divorce.

Payroll reports obtained by Newsday confirm that Fass received $7,400 in wages from April 1, 2023 through July 21, 2023.

The Times report also notes that Tessa Lark, the daughter of D’Esposito’s longtime fiancee Cynthia Lark, also worked for his district office.

Payroll reports show that Tessa Lark received $20,258 in wages from Jan. 3 to June 30, 2023.

Fass and the Larks could not immediately be reached for comment at phone numbers listed for all three that Newsday called on Tuesday.

The Code of Conduct for House members states that they cannot employ relatives including a stepchild. It and also bars lawmakers from engaging "in a sexual relationship with any employee of the House" unless they are married.

D’Esposito, a former NYPD detective and Hempstead town councilman, flipped the fourth district seat that was long held by Democrats in 2022. Both parties have poured money and resources into the district, viewing it as a key seat to winning the U.S. House majority in November. President Donald Trump held a rally last week in the district, at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, in what was widely regarded by local Republican leaders as a get-out-the vote effort not only for Trump but also for D’Esposito.

Gillen, in a statement on Tuesday, said: "These are very serious allegations that demand further investigation, and it’s clear that Anthony D’Esposito has abused his power in every position of trust he’s ever held."

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Spokeswoman Ellie Dougherty said in a statement that D’Esposito abused his position and "Nassau County families’ pocketbooks have paid the price."

"Long Island has already suffered from one shady congressman," Dougherty said, invoking expelled former Republican congressman George Santos. The former representative of New York’s third congressional district, spanning Nassau County and Queens, was ousted from the U.S. House last year over a host of ethical violations.

Nassau GOP Chairman Joe Cairo defended D’Esposito, calling the report "politically motivated and baseless mudslinging."

"Congressman Anthony D'Esposito refuses to be distracted from his mission of fixing the border crisis and providing real tax relief for Long Islanders," Cairo said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson declined to weigh in on the report when asked about it at Tuesday press conference on Capitol Hill, saying he was unaware of the details and had not had the chance to speak with D’Esposito.

"He's been a very strong advocate for his district. I've been up there a lot. I know the people of his district, and they are great champions of him, and he of them," said Johnson, who has held fundraisers alongside D’Esposito and other New York House Republicans over the past year.

D’Esposito ignored questions when first confronted by reporters on Capitol Hill on Monday evening, holding his phone close to his ear and maintaining a phone conversation as he walked away.

With Tom Brune and Candice Ferrette

By Laura Figueroa Hernandez

laura.figueroa@newsday.com@Laura_Figueroa

Laura Figueroa Hernandez is the White House correspondent and previously covered New York City politics and government. She joined Newsday in 2012 after covering state and local politics for The Miami Herald.