First-term Long Island Republican Rep. Anthony D'Esposito and his Democratic rival Laura Guillen blasted each other's records in a lively debate Tuesday. The battle revolved around ethics, taxes, the border immigration crisis, abortion, and whether transgender athletes should participate in women's sports. .
Mr. Esposito, a former NYPD detective who is seeking re-election for a second term in the 4th Congressional District, which stretches from the island's south coast to central Nassau County, is facing News 12's controversy over the employment of his alleged mistress. He was immediately put on the defensive during the debate.
The host asked about a recent report in the New York Times alleging that the sitting lawmaker was having an affair with Devin Fass while working part-time for her in his Garden City congressional office.
The congressman has not denied there was an affair, but maintains he did not violate House ethics rules by hiring Fass.
“My employment practices were up to the board, and there were no ethical violations in my decisions,” he said.
Changes in the rules since the “Me Too” era prohibit members of Congress from having sexual relations with subordinates.
D'Esposito sought to turn the tables on Guillen, a former Hempstead Town supervisor, and was elected by Scott Rexler and his RXR company officials before and after Guillen signed a $1.5 billion development deal. He pointed to a Post report that said he received $21,500 in donations for his work. The hub of Nassau Coliseum.
“This contract was awarded by the Republican-controlled Nassau County Legislature. That contract was never before us and we never voted on it,” Gillen said. Ta.
“This is smoke and smoke in response to the New York Times' reporting of serious, credible and substantiated allegations about his historic corruption and the provision of favors to his friends and family, including his mistress in Congressional offices. It’s a mirror.”
D'Esposito also provided a zinger, breaking Guillen's record as a Hempstead Town supervisor. She lost her bid for re-election in 2019, but her relationship with labor union leaders who supported the Republican incumbent deteriorated.
“She served as town supervisor of Hempstead for two years before being rejected by voters…In the first few days, we actually had a coalition of Republicans and Democrats who wanted to work with her,” D'Esposito said. said.
“Within weeks, she sued our only union and completely destroyed that relationship and that coalition. She doesn't get along with anyone.”
“It's a tough job. It's not about your ego, Laura. It's not just about winning elections. It's about actually doing the job for the American people.”
They clashed over taxes when asked about restoring the full federal tax credit for state and local taxes (SALT), a major issue for suburban homeowners struggling with high property taxes.
Again, D'Esposito pointed to Guillen's history as a Hempstead Town supervisor.
“She had the opportunity to vote for bipartisan tax cuts, and she proudly voted against them,” he said.
Guillen countered that D'Esposito “failed” to reinstate the SALT deduction.
D'Esposito then launched an attack on the border migrant crisis, which has seen record numbers of border crossings under Democratic administrations.
“My opponent and Democrats across the country told us the border was secure and the economy was strong. Suddenly Kamala Harris was the candidate, and now they wanted to secure the border and keep the economy strong. They're lying to everyone,'' he said, citing the tough border security bill passed by the Republican-led House as an example.
Gillen called the House Republican bill “bipartisan” and said it had “zero chance” of passing.
He said Republicans withdrew from the “bipartisan” compromise developed in the Senate so they could have “a seat at the table” during the campaign.
Asked if they supported a federal ban on transgender athletes participating in women's sports, copying the law passed in Nassau County, the two men took different positions.
Esposito supported a nationwide ban.
Guillen opposed the ban and said he would leave the matter to local sports authorities to handle.
Guillen said D'Esposito and the Republican Party cannot be trusted on abortion rights after the conservative Supreme Court outlawed the public's right to terminate a pregnancy and left the issue to the states.
“It's not a state's right, it's a human right…When it comes to reproductive freedom, I'm a credible candidate,” she said.
D'Esposito said she would “never support” federal legislation banning abortion and claimed to be a “defender of women's rights” in Congress.
