Anthony D'Esposito

Anthony P. D'Esposito (/diˌɛspəˈzitoʊ/ dee-ESS-pə-ZEE-toh; born February 22, 1982) is an American politician and retired police detective from New York. A member of the Republican Party, he has represented New York's 4th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023. His victory in the 2022 midterm election was considered a major upset, contributing to the narrow Republican majority in the House of Representatives.

Before entering politics, D'Esposito was a police officer with the NYPD's 73rd Precinct Detective Squad, Military and Extended Leave Desk. He joined the NYPD in 2006 and worked there until retiring in 2020.

During his NYPD career, D'Esposito received four complaints, including one for excessive force and one for an improper search for which it was recommended that charges be filed against him. He was also reprimanded twice by the department: in 2007, for working as a DJ and serving alcohol in a nightclub without departmental permission, for which he was stripped of 15 vacation days; and in 2015, when he was docked 20 vacation days for failing to secure his firearm, which was stolen after he left it unattended in a car.

D'Esposito was appointed as a councilman on the Hempstead, New York, town council in 2016, and won a full term the following year. He served on the council until 2023.

Elections

2022

After winning the Republican 2022 primary election unopposed, D'Esposito faced former Hempstead town supervisor Laura Gillen in the general election. D'Esposito framed the race as a referendum on public safety and cost-of-living issues.

D'Esposito defeated Gillen with 51.8% of the vote. Some analysts attributed his victory to gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin's political coattails.

Tenure

In January 2023, D'Esposito became the first sitting Republican representative to call for Representative George Santos' resignation in the wake of revelations about Santos' false biographical statements. D'Esposito's office has reportedly aided with services for a number of Santos' neighboring 3rd district constituents, who cannot reach or refuse to work with Santos' office. On March 7, 2023, D'Esposito introduced the No Fortune for Fraud Act, legislation that would alter House rules to prohibit members from being paid for their celebrity status if they are indicted for finance or fraud crimes; Santos, who is under investigation for fraud and check forgery in Brazil, is not directly named in the legislation, but D'Esposito said he was "an inspiration" for it.

D'Esposito supported Kevin McCarthy in the 2023 Speaker of the House election.

On October 26, 2023, he introduced a resolution to expel George Santos from the House of Representatives.

Syria

In 2023, D'Esposito voted against H.Con.Res. 21, which would have removed the United States Armed Forces from Syria by ending the American-led intervention in the Syrian civil war.

Caucus memberships

• Republican Governance Group
• Republican Main Street Partnership
• Congressional Hispanic Conference

D'Esposito is of Italian and Puerto Rican ancestry. He is Roman Catholic.