FEC Records Show Trump Nominee for DOL Inspector General Misled Congress About Campaign Contributions

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today called on former Congressman Anthony D’Esposito of New York – President Trump’s nominee to serve as Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor – to withdraw his nomination after D’Esposito seemingly misled Congress about the activity of his campaign committee during his nomination hearing. Yesterday, D’Esposito appeared before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), during which Blumenthal questioned him about plans to run for re-election in his former congressional district.

In response to Blumenthal’s questions about the activity of his campaign committee, D’Esposito said, “The campaign website that is still active is not being updated, it is not being used, there is no fundraising being done. There is not an active campaign being conducted.”

When Blumenthal asked D’Esposito about the last contribution made to his campaign committee, D’Esposito said, “I would assume before the new year.” D’Esposito went on to say that he is not accepting campaign contributions and that he was “not aware of any” when pressed by Blumenthal.

In a letter sent today to D’Esposito, Blumenthal pointed out that Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings for a campaign committee registered as “Desposito For New York,” show that statement of organization was filed with the FEC on June 2, 2025.

“According to filings with the FEC, your campaign has received donations this year of $22,205.54 through September 30, 2025. The most recent donations to your campaign, as listed on the October Quarterly report, were on September 30, 2025,” Blumenthal wrote.

“Given the inconsistencies between your testimony and public record, you should withdraw your nomination. Further, I write to solicit necessary information in order to determine if you lied to the Committee under oath,” Blumenthal concluded.

The full text of Blumenthal’s letter to D’Esposito is available here. A transcript of Blumenthal’s full exchange with D’Esposito in yesterday’s HSGAC hearing is available below. A video is available here.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): Thank you Mr. Chairmen. Thank you all for your being here today, and your commitment to public service. Mr. D’Esposito, the position of Inspector General should be above politics, should be insulated from politics, should be independent and objective. And that goes for all of the positions of Inspector General. So, I am eager to have your commitment, that you will not be a candidate for Congress in the fourth Congressional District in the next election.

Anthony D’Esposito: Right now, Senator, my focus is on being confirmed to serve as Inspector General of the United States Labor Department.

Blumenthal: Well, I know that is your focus now as you sit here. But I'm asking for your commitment that you will not be a candidate.

D’Esposito: Senator, with all due respect, as of today, my focus is to be confirmed as Inspector General of the U.S. Labor Department. Having discussions about the future are questions that I cannot answer.

Blumenthal: Here is why I am concerned about it. I have before me ads that were placed apparently on behalf of D’Esposito for Congress, that is your campaign committee, is it not?

D’Esposito: It is.

Blumenthal: And they were placed in, there are screenshots from your website on October 22, 2025. I am holding them up. You can probably see them, and you are familiar with them, I am sure. They’re your website. They are for your congressional committee, which is apparently ongoing.

D’Esposito: My website is still active, but there hasn't been any fundraising or anything done with the committee.

Blumenthal: And on September 19, in the issue of 5 Towns Jewish Times, you placed an ad, or your congressional committee did, on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah, wishing everyone ‘Shana Tovah.’ That ad was on behalf of your campaign committee, was it not?

D’Esposito: I will have to check with my campaign.

Blumenthal: You will have to check with your campaign? Well, it is here. How can you sit here and tell us that your focus is only on the IG position when you have an active campaign committee, you are placing ads, you are offering people lawn signs. That sounds like a campaign to me.

D’Esposito: The campaign website that is still active is not being updated, it is not being used, there is no fundraising being done. There is not an active campaign being conducted.

Blumenthal: When was the last contribution made to your campaign committee?

D’Esposito: I would assume before the new year.

Blumenthal: Before the new year?

D’Esposito: I am not certain. But I haven't done any active fundraising at all.

Blumenthal: Well, but you are still accepting campaign contributions, are you not?

D’Esposito: I am not accepting them.

Blumenthal: You are turning them away?

D’Esposito: I'm not aware of any campaign contributions.

Blumenthal: In an interview in Newsday, on October 8, you were asked whether you would be a candidate. You declined to say, correct?

D’Esposito: Yes.

Blumenthal: Let me ask you, there was an Ethics Committee investigation ongoing when you were defeated and left Congress last time. Was that Ethics Committee investigation concluded?

D’Esposito: It was dismissed, yes.

Blumenthal: It was dismissed?

D’Esposito: Yes.

Blumenthal: It was concluded, and the complaints were dismissed?

D’Esposito: Yes.

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