A liberal government watchdog group is accusing Department of Labor Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito of abusing his role by openly supporting the president’s agenda, something it says could run afoul of federal ethics law, but which D’Esposito maintains was apolitical.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a complaint against D’Esposito on Wednesday. In it, the group pointed to his “support for the president’s party and agenda” as evidence that he may have acted inappropriately. While it would not be strange for most administration officials to praise the president, CREW argued that D’Esposito is held to a different standard given his position in a nonpartisan oversight role.
“CREW’s latest complaint is nothing more than partisan theater from political hacks who specialize in headlines, not facts. I will not be distracted by activist noise or political games,” D’Esposito told the Washington Examiner. “President Trump’s war on fraud isn’t political — it’s exactly what the American people voted for. While they file complaints, I’ll keep filing criminal cases and protecting American workers and taxpayers.”
The complaint, which cites pro-Trump social media activity, among other allegations, comes as D’Esposito is tasked with investigating Labor Secretary Lori Chavez DeRemer, who stands accused of using public funds for personal travel, engaging in politically motivated grantmaking, creating a hostile work environment, and having an affair with a subordinate.
“Inspectors general play a critical role in safeguarding taxpayer funds, promoting government efficiency and administering federal ethics laws, by investigating suspected waste, fraud, and abuse,” the complaint reads.
“Despite that important mandate, D’Esposito has clearly undermined his role as an independent watchdog by positioning himself for a future partisan role in government throughout his time as Department of Labor inspector general,” it continues. “His actions have not been working in the interests of the American people across the country, but instead have focused on issues relevant to his congressional constituency and positioning himself as a loyal partisan ally of the administration — roles entirely inappropriate for an independent, impartial, and non-partisan inspector general.”
Federal standards for inspectors general stipulate that they must avoid “bias” stemming from “political, ideological, social, or other convictions” and that they must “both in fact and in appearance” be free from “organizational impairments to independence.”
In one instance of social media activity cited by CREW, D’Esposito praised the Trump administration’s economic policies; in others, he reposted positive statements about its approach to the war in Iran and tackling crime. In multiple posts cited by CREW, D’Esposito endorsed the Trump administration’s efforts to root out fraud, which he has claimed is not political and falls under his responsibility as an inspector general.
CREW stated that D’Esposito’s “wide-ranging posts and reposts about immigration enforcement, military action in Iran, and crime” fall outside his purview as Labor Department inspector general and thus could run afoul of federal ethics rules requiring that he not use his social media account to engage in “partisan political activity.”
The watchdog also argued that D’Esposito’s social media posts praising President Donald Trump are evidence of bias that could affect his ability to conduct investigations impartially, and that his flirtation with a run for Congress — which, according to CREW, could constitute a Hatch Act violation — constitutes a conflict of interest, as it could allow political ambitions to get in the way of his work.
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While D’Esposito’s public statements may be unusual, inspectors general with partisan preferences are nothing new. A January 2025 Washington Examiner investigation found that at least six of the 18 inspectors general dismissed by Trump at the start of his administration had made contributions to Democratic political committees.
CREW is asking the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, an independent executive agency tasked with overseeing offices of inspectors general, to investigate its claims.