D'Esposito nomination to Labor post clears committee and heads for Senate vote

A Senate committee on Thursday voted to advance to a floor vote the nomination of former Long Island GOP congressman Anthony D’Esposito to be the Department of Labor’s internal watchdog.

No date has been set for that full Senate consideration of D’Esposito to be the department’s inspector general. The Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee reported out his nomination favorably by a party-line, one-vote margin, 12-11.

D’Esposito, 43, an ally of President Donald Trump, could not be immediately reached. A spokesman said   D'Esposito is grateful to the committee for advancing his nomination “and looks forward to serving the American people once he is confirmed by the Senate.”

Some Republicans have said that gaining the Labor Department post could put D’Esposito in a better position for a bid to win back his former congressional seat next year. He declined to rule out such a run to Newsday last month.

The one-term congressman was defeated in November by Rep. Laura Gillen (D-Rockville Centre). Two years earlier, the former New York City police officer and Hempstead Town council member had defeated Gillen in what was then an open-seat race for New York’s 4th Congressional District.