Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY) defended himself from what he called a “hit piece” as he responded to questions of whether he violated ethics rules by hiring two women with whom he held personal relationships. 

Cornered in a congressional building in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, D’Esposito knocked concerns about his move to employ his ex-mistress, as well as his fiancee’s daughter, in a district office last year.