New York GOP Rep. Anthony D’Esposito is making a play for a job in the incoming Trump administration: the next head of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
After losing a reelection bid for his competitive Long Island district, D’Esposito is working to consolidate support from regional law enforcement unions, in addition to calling key players in Trump’s orbit, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter.
“President Trump has a mandate from the people of this country to Make America Safe Again, and I would be honored to lend my experience as a decorated NYPD Detective and member of the House Homeland Security Committee to assist President Trump in that mission,” D’Esposito said in a statement.
News of the effort comes just a day after Trump’s initial pick to lead the DEA, Chad Chronister, announced he was withdrawing from consideration, just days after being named as the nominee. He said he chose to step back from the process “as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in,” while noting that he wished to continue his present work as a sheriff in Florida. Trump, for his part, posted on Truth Social that he pulled Chronister out of the running, citing remarks he made to supporters.
Allies of D’Esposito are now pushing him as the next best alternative, leaning on his New York Police Department detective credentials to make the case that he is the right person to help address the flow of illegal drugs coming into the U.S.
“@realDonaldTrump should nominate @RepDesposito a highly decorated @NYPDDetectives & proven crime fighter as @DEAHQ Administrator. As a respected member of Congress, D’Esposito has demonstrated leadership & commitment needed to help DJT in his goal of Making America Safe Again,” the Nassau County Detectives Association posted on X on Wednesday.
The centrist New Yorker had flipped a blue seat last cycle, and often carefully tried to toe the line between juggling the demands of a swing district while not alienating Trump and his supporters. But he ultimately lost his Long Island seat to Democratic challenger Laura Gillen.
D’Esposito was among the House Republicans who led the ultimately successful push to expel George Santos from Congress over various ethics violations. Santos has since pleaded guilty to committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. But D’Esposito later faced controversies of his own, with The New York Times releasing a report weeks before Election Day that detailed allegations of an affair and that D’Esposito was employing his mistress and his fiancee’s daughter. He has denied he violated House ethics rules.
D’Esposito is also one of several Republicans who aren’t returning to the House next year now seeking jobs in the administration.