A trio of sex scandals are becoming September surprises for Republicans, creating unnecessary distractions as the party seeks to win control of the White House and Congress this fall.
It’s unclear if any of the controversies will trip up the GOP as former President Trump seeks to retake the presidency, Senate Republicans work to retake their majority and House Republicans look to grow their slender advantage.
But none of the scandals are welcome, and all could have unexpected ramifications as the autumn leaves fall and voters head to the polls. It’s left some Republicans shaking their heads.
“If you’re going to get into this line of work, you better be prepared to have a big, high-powered magnifying glass underneath you,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said. “If you don’t, shame on you. Think it through.”
“Some are scandals, some are fake scandals, some are political potshots,” Tillis continued. “But like, folks … assess the risk.”
“It’s crazy,” he added.
Tillis has been the foremost critic of North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R), the GOP candidate for governor who has faced pressure to drop out of the contest after a bombshell CNN report emerged showing incendiary remarks he made more than a decade ago on a website called “Nude Africa.”
In various posts, he referred to himself as a “black NAZI” and a “perv,” and he wrote about being sexually aroused by memories from his teenage years, when he was secretly “peeping” on women in gym showers. Robinson, who saw an exodus of campaign staff after the CNN story, has denied he made the posts.
Robinson is an underdog in the race against Democratic state Attorney General Josh Stein, and Republicans also worry his problems could cost Trump, who needs to hold on to North Carolina to win the Electoral College.
A controversy closer to the Capitol emerged Monday when The New York Times reported that Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-N.Y.) put his former mistress and the daughter of his longtime fiancée on his district office payroll. In a statement released shortly after, D’Esposito labeled the story a “partisan ‘hit piece.’”
“My personal life has never interfered with my ability to deliver results for New York’s 4th district, and I have upheld the highest ethical standards of personal conduct,” he said. “Voters deserve better than the Times’ gutter politics.”
He later denied the story to CNN outside the Capitol.
D’Esposito is running in one of the most competitive House races in the country, so his late-arriving controversy could have a big impact on the ability of the House GOP to hold on to its majority. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates D’Esposito’s race against Democrat Laura Gillen as a toss-up. It’s one of a half-dozen competitive races in the Empire State, making New York perhaps the key battleground in the race for the House.
D’Esposito is the second House lawmaker to have allegations of infidelity publicly aired this month.
Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), who is seeking a divorce, had his wife accuse him of having an affair with a younger woman in a lengthy message that was reportedly circulated among House Republicans.
A source familiar with the situation, however, said that the woman Green was involved with has no professional connection to his office or campaign, in a contrast to the allegations against D’Esposito.
Green’s race is also not considered competitive.
The various stories have left Republicans lamenting the continued airing of dirty laundry.
“One thing that’s fortunate is that there’s less of a tolerance in the sense that when I talked to some of the old-timers, it was sort of commonplace and everybody sort of looked the other way,” Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said. “I think there’s much less of that than there used to be.”
“Frankly, I don’t know that it’s much different than the reflection of society. I always say we’re basically a reflection of the people of the country, not the other way around. But in our position of importance and persuasion, we ought to set a better example,” he continued. “I just wonder how many more there are that we don’t know about.”
Sex scandals, to be sure, are not a Republican-only problem. Former Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) resigned in 2017 and former Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) resigned in 2018 amid allegations of sexual misconduct that came to light against them during the “Me Too” movement.
Tillis said Monday that he will not campaign alongside Robinson in the final weeks of the race and indicated he will not vote for him, adding that his focus is on Trump carrying the Tar Heel State again and candidates for the Legislature.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) said Wednesday he will no longer support Robinson’s gubernatorial bid, while the Republican Governors Association revealed it will no longer spend on the airwaves in the battleground state.
Some members chalk up the wave of revelations to election-season political games.
“It’s election season. People save the salacious details for times like this, trying to smear their opponent because they don’t have anything else to really talk about,” one House Republican told The Hill.
But while some of the allegations are disputed or outright denied, Republicans on Capitol Hill are reacting with embarrassment.
Another House Republican, granted anonymity to speak candidly, said Republicans need to “quit stepping on our d‑‑‑s.”
“It’s stupid,” the GOP member said.
Yet another House GOP member lamented the effect the stories, and actions, have on the Republicans’ families.
“I really hate the damage to marriages. … That would be terrible for my wife and my kids. So, I make sure I’m not put in that position,” the House Republican said.
“I just know that there are no secrets,” the member added.