In keeping options open in CD4, D'Esposito risks a Hatch Act violation

Daily Point

Senators warn former congressman against campaigning while still inspector general

Two Democratic senators are calling out former GOP congressman and current federal Department of Labor Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito before he even dips his toes — formally — in the 2026 electoral cycle.

Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Gary Peters sent D'Esposito a letter Tuesday warning him that the Hatch Act prevents him from "preparatory or exploratory actions even prior to the official launch of a campaign" while he is still the inspector general.

D'Esposito has yet to confirm or deny a much-speculated run for Congress, but he's sure acting like a candidate who wants to hit the campaign trail.

D'Esposito was on Long Island Sunday for the National Alliance of Indian Organizations' leadership alliance event at the Long Island Marriott in Uniondale. The group's goals include "empowering future Indian political leaders" and "strengthening civic engagement and national policy advocacy." The Indian American vote is a potent one for Nassau officials.

Madhu Pareek, a founding member of the group, confirmed to The Point that among those who attended, in addition to D'Esposito, were Nassau County Executive and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, Nassau GOP chair Joe Cairo, Republican candidate for state attorney general Saritha Komatireddy, and Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi, who is seeking reelection.

An appearance in his home county isn't unusual. But the inspector general of the federal Department of Labor appearing at an event with political undertones could raise eyebrows since inspectors general don't need to worry about electorates.

D'Esposito continues to dodge getting pinned down on his intentions, most recently at a congressional hearing last week. There are three Republicans listed on the Federal Election Commission website for CD4 in 2026, and none is named D'Esposito.

Is the strategy for D'Esposito to not even file petitions and wait for the declination period? A similar strategy worked last spring for the GOP when then-Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin declined the Republican bid for reelection to take a judgeship. The slot was immediately filled by then-Nassau Legis. John Ferretti, who handily won election as an appointed incumbent.

Someone who files enough valid signatures to get on the ballot for the Republican line would have to decline the nomination. A brief window would then open allowing the county GOP to designate D'Esposito as the nominee.

Assuming D'Esposito wants to run.

During a House Ways and Means subcommittee hearing last week, Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) pressed D'Esposito just before the hearing ended about a possible campaign.

D'Esposito avoided giving a direct answer.

"... are you or are you not currently campaigning for Congress? And two, are there printed petitions with your name on it as a candidate for New York's 4th Congressional District?" Horsford asked.

"I am not campaigning and I have no idea if there's petitions printed," D'Esposito responded.

That's not an unequivocal "no."

A voice recording at the Labor Department's media relations office says it is "temporarily unavailable due to suspension of federal government services." D'Esposito was nominated by President Donald Trump on March 31, 2025, to be inspector general for the Department of Labor. He was confirmed by the Senate Dec. 18 and sworn into office on Jan. 5. The Hatch Act generally prohibits running for office while holding a federal position.

Some of D'Esposito's other activities prior to a possible run for Congress include stints as a columnist and an ad in a local newspaper paid by his campaign.

D'Esposito's "Mensch on a Mission" column in the Five Towns Jewish Times lists him as "Congressman" as recently as Jan. 2, but in a Jan. 16 column, he is listed as "Inspector General." A full-page Shana Tova ad paid for by "D'Esposito for New York" appeared in the Sept. 19 edition of the newspaper under the banner "D'Esposito for Congress."

Another person interested in the CD4 race is Marvin Suber Williams, a Republican who filed with the Federal Election Commission on Jan. 31. A full-page ad appeared on March 6 in the Five Towns Jewish Times, which happens to list D'Esposito as a contributing editor.

Other Republicans listed on the FEC website for CD4 include Brian Miller and Dennis McGrath. Neither reported any fundraising or money in their campaign accounts. Miller filed to run on Aug. 26 while McGrath filed on Oct. 18. McGrath is circulating nominating petitions.

Perhaps D'Esposito dropped a breadcrumb about his intentions in that Jan. 16 "Mensch on a Mission" column, writing about his inspector general duties: "... I have always believed in one thing: the law matters and it must be enforced. That is exactly what we are going to do for as long as I hold this position. Stay tuned ..."

— Mark Nolan mark.nolan@newsday.com and Nirmal Mitra nirmal.mitra@newsday.com

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Final Point

Chief judge says he did nothing wrong by urging people not to vote for some judges

Chief Judge Rowan Wilson didn't wait long to render a decision on the formal complaint made Wednesday by Long Island legislators alleging he violated ethics rules by advocating at a symposium seeking to reduce prison terms for the electoral defeat of certain judges.

He did nothing wrong.

As The Point reported on Monday, Anthony Palumbo, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee and his counterpart in the Assembly, Michael Tannousis, both former prosecutors, filed a complaint with the state's Commission on Judicial Conduct contending that Wilson's statements at a CUNY School of Law event in Queens had crossed the line into improper political advocacy.

At the videotaped event, Wilson voiced support for the Second Look Act, which would give those serving long prison terms the right to challenge their sentence after 10 years. The state's top judge, who also oversees the court system in New York, later said that judges who make disparaging remarks about defendants in criminal cases should not be reelected. It's Wilson's commentary critical of judges he oversees that's the most potent ethics charge against him.

After the lawmakers' news conference, Al Baker, a spokesman for the state Office of Court Administration, issued a response.

"It is appropriate for the Chief Judge to express his views on pending legislation that affects the court system. It is also appropriate for him to speak publicly about proper judicial temperament and values, and to encourage New Yorkers to stay informed about the conduct of the judges serving their communities and to participate in the processes by which those judges are elected or appointed. Those are the points that the Chief made at this symposium, consistent with his role as the Chief Judge of the State."

Palumbo, citing cases of lower court judges who were sanctioned for political advocacy, said Wilson's remarks were effectively endorsing judges who don't give harsh or maximum sentences. "Imagine the outcry if this was the other way around and the chief judge was saying don't vote for judges who give lenient sentences," he said.

A video of the symposium on YouTube shows that Wilson's comments about ousting judges came directly after he cited "horrible language" in transcripts, including one in which a judge told a defendant "you're an animal and should be put in a cage for the rest of your life." Wilson told the audience the court system is limited about what can be done to such judges. "And one thing that all of you can do is find out who those people are. When those judges come up to be elected, don't vote for them, get other people not to vote for them." He added, "That's something you can do for me."

Said Palumbo, "This is the person who is in charge of an entire branch of government." At a minimum, he said the commission should issue "a public admonishment, so all the judges in all the other courts know it is not OK" to make endorsements.

Other Republicans in the Long Island state delegation who signed on to the complaint and appeared at the news conference were State Sens. Steven Rhoads and Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and Assembly members John Mikulin, Keith Brown and Doug Smith.

— Rita Ciolli rita.ciolli@newsday.com

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