George Demos
Encyclopedia
George Demos is a former Securities and Exchange Commission prosecutor, and a former candidate for the Republican nomination for New York's 1st congressional district
in New York State's Long Island
.
, and now lives in Holbrook, New York
.
Demos received his B.A. from Columbia University
, majoring in political science, and his J.D. from Fordham Law School.
Demos vied in 2010 for the Republican nomination to compete for the congressional seat of Democrat Tim Bishop
on Long Island
in New York State in the November 2010 election, coming in second in the primary. His three-way primary included Christopher Nixon Cox
, a grandson of Richard Nixon
and son of the state GOP chairman, and businessman Randy Altschuler
.
Cox's father-in-law to-be, John Catsimatidis
, the Gristedes
supermarket and oil magnate, raised ethical issues about Demos' time at the SEC, saying he was accused of improprieties, and the subject of a related disciplinary complaint. Demos provided a letter reflecting that he was cleared of the complaint.
John Jay LaValle, Suffolk County
Republican chairman, opined in February 2010 that Demos was a qualified and "extraordinary" candidate for the Republican Party's nomination to be a congressman in the 1st District from eastern Long Island. It was Demos's first run for office.
He used the strategy firm Shawmut Group, which was formed in 2008 by Mitt Romney
's advisors. In January 2010, Demos appointed to his political team Rob Cole, a former advisor to former New York Governor George Pataki
, and a member of Romney's 2008 campaign team. That month, Demos also announced that he had raised more than $300,000 for his campaign. At the end of 2009, his campaign had $275,000. He also issued his first TV ad, a 30-second commercial that attacked Bishop for supporting "reckless" fiscal policy.
In April 2010, Demos said that the Suffolk Conservatives were "inexplicably" preparing to endorse Altschuler. Demos called Altschuler a "pro-choice
, outsourcing proponent" and former member of the Green Party, which embraces "radical Marxist ideologies."
In July 2010 he issued a new radio ad, in which he identified himself as the "only Conservative" in the contest. That month he also said that Tea Party
members had been supporting his candidacy.
In August 2010, he accused Altschuler of stealing another candidate's press releases, pointing to identical releases from Altschuler and Doug Hoffman
, a candidate in for another New York congressional seat who uses the same consultant on some issues. That month he also accused rival Chris Cox of using his father-in-law to-be, Catsimatidis, for "dirty tricks".
That month he also objected to the proposed construction of the Cordoba House mosque near Ground Zero. He said that the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
, the only religious structure destroyed in the 9/11 attacks, should be rebuilt before moving forward on building a mosque in the area, and called for an investigation into the mosque's financing. In the days leading up to the primary, Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh
did a "six-minute radio riff in support of George Demos in NY-1, calling the former SEC attorney the only conservative in the race."
In the September 2010 primary, Altschuler finished first with 45 percent of the vote, Demos had 30 percent, and Cox was third with 24 percent.
on the 2011 debt ceiling compromise.
that the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
reopened an investigation into Demos for allegedly betraying the confidence of a JPMorgan Chase whistleblower, while Demos served as an attorney at the SEC. Initially the 10th Judicial District Grievance Committee disposed of the allegations. However, the court committee transferred the investigation to "avoid the appearance of impropriety."
New York's 1st congressional district
The 1st Congressional District of New York is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in eastern Long Island. It includes most of Central and Eastern Suffolk County, including most of Smithtown, as well as the entirety of the towns of Brookhaven, Riverhead, Southold,...
in New York State's Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
.
Early life
Demos is the grandson of immigrants. His mother was a public school teacher, and his father was an attorney in private practice. He was originally from Shelter Island, New YorkShelter Island (town), New York
Shelter Island is a town and island at the eastern end of Long Island in the U.S. state of New York. It forms the tip of Suffolk County and is separated from the rest of the county by water. The population was 2,228 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, and now lives in Holbrook, New York
Holbrook, New York
Holbrook is a hamlet and census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 27,512 at the 2000 Census.-Geography:Holbrook is located at ....
.
Demos received his B.A. from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, majoring in political science, and his J.D. from Fordham Law School.
Securities and Exchange Commission
Demos prosecuted white collar fraud as a prosecutor at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) between 2002 and 2009.Politics
Tim Bishop
Timothy H. "Tim" Bishop is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes most of Central and Eastern Suffolk County, including most of Smithtown, as well as the entirety of the towns of Brookhaven, Riverhead, Southold, Southampton,...
on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
in New York State in the November 2010 election, coming in second in the primary. His three-way primary included Christopher Nixon Cox
Christopher Nixon Cox
Christopher Nixon Cox is a politician in New York and is the grandson of Richard Nixon.-Early life:Christopher Nixon Cox was born and raised in New York, and currently lives in Manhattan....
, a grandson of Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
and son of the state GOP chairman, and businessman Randy Altschuler
Randy Altschuler
Randolph "Randy" Brody Altschuler is a businessman and politician on Long Island, New York. He was the Republican Party and Conservative Party candidate for Congress in New York's 1st Congressional District in 2010....
.
Cox's father-in-law to-be, John Catsimatidis
John Catsimatidis
John Catsimatidis b. 1948, is the owner, president, chairman, and CEO of the Red Apple Group and Gristedes Foods. He is also the chairman and CEO of the Red Apple Group subsidiary United Refining Company....
, the Gristedes
Gristedes
Gristede's is a New York City-based chain of small supermarkets. It serves a mostly urban customer base.-History:The first Gristede's [grih-STEE-deez] was founded by brothers Diedrich and Charles Gristede in 1888...
supermarket and oil magnate, raised ethical issues about Demos' time at the SEC, saying he was accused of improprieties, and the subject of a related disciplinary complaint. Demos provided a letter reflecting that he was cleared of the complaint.
John Jay LaValle, Suffolk County
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
Republican chairman, opined in February 2010 that Demos was a qualified and "extraordinary" candidate for the Republican Party's nomination to be a congressman in the 1st District from eastern Long Island. It was Demos's first run for office.
He used the strategy firm Shawmut Group, which was formed in 2008 by Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
's advisors. In January 2010, Demos appointed to his political team Rob Cole, a former advisor to former New York Governor George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
, and a member of Romney's 2008 campaign team. That month, Demos also announced that he had raised more than $300,000 for his campaign. At the end of 2009, his campaign had $275,000. He also issued his first TV ad, a 30-second commercial that attacked Bishop for supporting "reckless" fiscal policy.
In April 2010, Demos said that the Suffolk Conservatives were "inexplicably" preparing to endorse Altschuler. Demos called Altschuler a "pro-choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
, outsourcing proponent" and former member of the Green Party, which embraces "radical Marxist ideologies."
In July 2010 he issued a new radio ad, in which he identified himself as the "only Conservative" in the contest. That month he also said that Tea Party
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
members had been supporting his candidacy.
In August 2010, he accused Altschuler of stealing another candidate's press releases, pointing to identical releases from Altschuler and Doug Hoffman
Doug Hoffman
Douglas L. "Doug" Hoffman is an American businessman, accountant and former congressional candidate. He was the Conservative Party candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2009 special election for New York's 23rd congressional district. On November 3, 2009, he was defeated by...
, a candidate in for another New York congressional seat who uses the same consultant on some issues. That month he also accused rival Chris Cox of using his father-in-law to-be, Catsimatidis, for "dirty tricks".
That month he also objected to the proposed construction of the Cordoba House mosque near Ground Zero. He said that the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church stood across Liberty Street from the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City, USA. It was completely destroyed in the September 11, 2001, attacks when the South Tower collapsed...
, the only religious structure destroyed in the 9/11 attacks, should be rebuilt before moving forward on building a mosque in the area, and called for an investigation into the mosque's financing. In the days leading up to the primary, Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
did a "six-minute radio riff in support of George Demos in NY-1, calling the former SEC attorney the only conservative in the race."
In the September 2010 primary, Altschuler finished first with 45 percent of the vote, Demos had 30 percent, and Cox was third with 24 percent.
2012 Congressional Campaign
Demos announced another run for Congress Monday, August 8, 2011. Shortly after his announcement, Demos called Randy Altschuler, the other announced Republican candidate, "unelectable" for losing a district a district with a 30,000 Republican voter edge in 2010. Demos also chided Altschuler for taking the same position as incumbent Congressman Tim BishopTim Bishop
Timothy H. "Tim" Bishop is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes most of Central and Eastern Suffolk County, including most of Smithtown, as well as the entirety of the towns of Brookhaven, Riverhead, Southold, Southampton,...
on the 2011 debt ceiling compromise.
Whistleblower controversy and subsequent dismissal
In June 2011, it was reported by the Project On Government OversightProject on Government Oversight
The Project On Government Oversight , founded in 1981, is an independent non-profit organization in the United States which investigates and seeks to expose corruption and other misconduct. POGO assists whistleblowers and investigates federal agencies, Congress, and government contractors...
that the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
The Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division is the intermediate appellate court in New York State. The Appellate Division is composed of four departments .*The First Department covers the Bronx The Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division is the intermediate...
reopened an investigation into Demos for allegedly betraying the confidence of a JPMorgan Chase whistleblower, while Demos served as an attorney at the SEC. Initially the 10th Judicial District Grievance Committee disposed of the allegations. However, the court committee transferred the investigation to "avoid the appearance of impropriety."