George Demos

Demos grew up in New York City where he attended Trinity School.{{Cite news |last=Leibovich |first=Mark |date=2014-04-08 |title=How Not to Seem Rich While Running for Office |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/13/magazine/leibovich-rich-politicians.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108064648/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/13/magazine/leibovich-rich-politicians.html |archive-date=January 8, 2018 |access-date=2018-01-07 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} Demos received his B.A. from Columbia University, majoring in political science, and his J.D. from Fordham Law School.{{cite web |date= |title=Meet George: A Biography: Meet George |url=http://www.georgedemosforcongress.com/refresh/templates/meet_george.php?id=5 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817232446/http://www.georgedemosforcongress.com/refresh/templates/meet_george.php?id=5 |archive-date=August 17, 2010 |accessdate=August 5, 2010 |publisher=George Demos For Congress}}

Demos prosecuted white collar fraud as a prosecutor at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) between 2002 and 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.longislandpress.com/2010/02/06/nixon-grandson-in-gop-bid-for-bishops-seat/ |title=Nixon Grandson in GOP Bid for Bishop's Seat |publisher=Long Island Press |date=September 11, 2001 |accessdate=August 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208185120/http://www.longislandpress.com/2010/02/06/nixon-grandson-in-gop-bid-for-bishops-seat/ |archivedate=February 8, 2010 |df=mdy }}{{cite web |last=Cadei |first=Emily |url=http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003293821&cpage=2 |title=For New York's GOP, a Candidate Surplus |publisher=CQ Politics |accessdate=August 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817130312/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003293821&cpage=2 |archivedate=August 17, 2010 |df=mdy }}{{cite web|url=http://www.antonnews.com/columns/barry/9000-gop-family-feuds.html |title=GOP Family Feuds |publisher=Antonnews.com |date=July 9, 2010 |accessdate=August 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306031724/http://www.antonnews.com/columns/barry/9000-gop-family-feuds.html |archivedate=March 6, 2012 |df=mdy }} Demos is a partner at DLA Piper and an adjunct law professor at University of California at Davis Law School, where he has taught Corporate and White Collar Crime and Presidential Powers.{{Cite web |last= |date=2021-03-30 |title=George Demos |url=https://law.ucdavis.edu/people/george-demos |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717232017/https://law.ucdavis.edu/people/george-demos |archive-date=July 17, 2024 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=UC Davis School of Law |language=en}}

In 2010, it was reported by the Project On Government Oversight that the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York reopened an investigation into Demos for allegedly disclosing the identity of a JPMorgan Chase whistleblower while Demos served as an attorney at the SEC.{{Cite web |date=March 30, 2009 |title=Memorandum |url=http://pogoarchives.org/m/er/sec-oig-report-20090330.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005214212/http://pogoarchives.org/m/er/sec-oig-report-20090330.pdf |archive-date=October 5, 2011 |publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission}} Initially the 10th Judicial District Grievance Committee disposed of the allegations. However, the court committee transferred the investigation to "avoid the appearance of impropriety."{{cite web |last=Smallberg |first=Michael |date=January 28, 2010 |title=Long Island Congressional Candidate Cited for Giving Up JPMorgan Whistleblower |url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/01/28/long-island-congressional-candidate-cited-for-giving-up-jpmorgan/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106150630/http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/01/28/long-island-congressional-candidate-cited-for-giving-up-jpmorgan/ |archive-date=November 6, 2011 |accessdate=November 25, 2011 |work=PoliticsDaily |publisher=}}{{Cite web |date=2012-08-20 |title=Wall Street Watchdog Hunts JPMorgan Whistleblower Peter Sivere |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/peter-sivere-jpmorgan-whistleblower_n_1812329 |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=HuffPost |language=en}} In a letter dated September 23, 2011, the Third Judicial Department dismissed the matter again, stating "the Committee has determined that there is an insufficient basis for a finding of professional misconduct."{{cite web |title=Dismissal Letter 1 |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/72071871/Second-Dismissal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909083024/http://www.scribd.com/doc/72071871/Second-Dismissal |archive-date=September 9, 2012}}{{cite web |title=Dismissal Letter 2 |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/77292275/Closure |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305155709/https://www.scribd.com/doc/77292275/Closure |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |access-date=September 9, 2017}}

File:New York District 01 109th US Congress.png]]

{{Further|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 1}}

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.{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/01/23/with_win_behind_them_brown_strategists_are_in_demand/ |title=With win behind them, Brown strategists are in demand |publisher=The Boston Globe |date=January 23, 2010 |accessdate=August 5, 2010 |first=Casey |last=Ross |archive-date=January 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128140618/http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/01/23/with_win_behind_them_brown_strategists_are_in_demand/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Katz |first=Celeste |date=July 21, 2010 |title=Jeb Bush Endorses Chris Cox For Congress In NY-1 |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/07/jeb-bush-endorses-chris-cox-fo.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808141511/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/07/jeb-bush-endorses-chris-cox-fo.html |archivedate=August 8, 2010 |accessdate=August 5, 2010 |work=New York Daily News |df=mdy}} His three-way primary included Christopher Nixon Cox, the grandson of President Richard Nixon and Randy Altschuler, a businessman.{{cite news |last=Katz |first=Celeste |date=July 19, 2010 |title=Incumbent Rep. Tim Bishop Snags Indy Line In NY-1 |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/07/incumbent-rep-tim-bishop-snags.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722205046/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/07/incumbent-rep-tim-bishop-snags.html |archivedate=July 22, 2010 |accessdate=August 5, 2010 |work=New York Daily News |df=mdy}}{{cite web|url=http://sagharboronline.com/sagharborexpress/page-1/schneiderman-opts-out-of-congressional-race-8485 |title=Schneiderman Opts Out of Congressional Race |publisher=The Sag Harbor Express |date=July 15, 2010 |accessdate=August 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715224434/http://sagharboronline.com/sagharborexpress/page-1/schneiderman-opts-out-of-congressional-race-8485 |archivedate=July 15, 2011 |df=mdy }}

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." Limbaugh praised Demos and noted "the Republican establishment had turned on him [Demos]."{{cite web |author=Haberman |first=Maggie |date=September 8, 2010 |title=Rush pro-Demos in NY-1, unloads on Cox and Altschuler |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/maggiehaberman/0910/Rush_proDemos_in_NY1_unloads_on_Cox_and_Altschuler_.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715103235/http://www.politico.com/blogs/maggiehaberman/0910/Rush_proDemos_in_NY1_unloads_on_Cox_and_Altschuler_.html |archive-date=July 15, 2011 |accessdate=February 13, 2011 |website=Politico |publisher=}} 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.{{cite web |last=Miller |first=Sean J. |date=September 14, 2010 |title=Rep. Bishop up against big-spending Republican |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/70104-rep-bishop-up-against-big-spending-republican/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916211034/http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/118851-rep-bishop-up-against-big-spending-republican- |archive-date=September 16, 2010 |access-date=September 16, 2010 |website=The Hill |publisher=}}

{{Further|2012 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 1}}

Demos announced another run for Congress Monday, August 8, 2011. In 2012 Demos wrote a letter to Donald Trump stating "your passion and dedication to defending (America's) interests is unequaled" and asking him to speak out against the outsourcing of American jobs to India."{{Cite news |last=Haberman |first=Maggie |date=13 October 2011 |title=The Donald as NY-1 wedge |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/david-catanese/2011/10/the-donald-as-ny-1-wedge-039958 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112213458/https://www.politico.com/blogs/david-catanese/2011/10/the-donald-as-ny-1-wedge-039958 |archive-date=November 12, 2024 |access-date=November 12, 2024 |work=Politico}} Demos withdrew from the race May 25, 2012.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/AP1196ba9af6a547f2a14c5f296d58bf8e |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604014824/http://online.wsj.com/article/AP1196ba9af6a547f2a14c5f296d58bf8e.html |title=Demos quits GOP primary for congressional seat |archivedate=June 4, 2012 }}

{{Further|2014 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 1}}

On October 6, 2013, he announced he would seek the Republican nomination to run against Congressman Tim Bishop.{{Cite web |title=Demos & Zeldin Announce Plans to Run for Congress in 2014 |url=http://sagharboronline.com/sagharborexpress/page-1/demos-zeldin-announce-plans-to-run-for-congress-in-2014-25924 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505125817/http://sagharboronline.com/sagharborexpress/page-1/demos-zeldin-announce-plans-to-run-for-congress-in-2014-25924 |archive-date=May 5, 2014 |access-date=May 5, 2014 |website=The Sag Harbor Express |df=mdy-all}} On June 24, 2014 he lost the primary election to New York State Senator Lee Zeldin.{{Cite web|url=http://riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com/2014/06/55552/zeldin-holds-early-lead-in-gop-primary/|title=Zeldin tops Demos, will face Bishop this fall|date=June 25, 2014|access-date=June 25, 2014|archive-date=July 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703172521/http://riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com/2014/06/55552/zeldin-holds-early-lead-in-gop-primary/|url-status=live}}

In August 2010, Demos held a press conference at Ground Zero with former New York Governor George Pataki to object to the proposed construction of the Park51 Islamic community center near Ground Zero.{{Cite news |last=Vitello |first=Paul |date=2010-08-24 |title=Amid Furor on Islamic Center, Pleas for Orthodox Church Nearby |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/24/nyregion/24greek.html |access-date=2024-07-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=July 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725225414/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/24/nyregion/24greek.html |url-status=live }} 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 an Islamic community center in the area, and called for an investigation into the center's financing.{{cite web |author=CBN News |date=August 3, 2010 |title=Church Destroyed on 9/11 Still in Shambles |url=http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2010/August/Church-Destroyed-on-911-Still-in-Shambles |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805014821/http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2010/August/Church-Destroyed-on-911-Still-in-Shambles/ |archive-date=August 5, 2010 |accessdate=August 4, 2010 |publisher=CBN News}}{{cite web |date=August 3, 2010 |title=George Demos Tells Fox News We Must Rebuild St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at Ground Zero |url=http://usa.greekreporter.com/2010/08/03/george-demos-on-rebuilding-of-st-nicholas-in-manhattan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818072248/http://usa.greekreporter.com/2010/08/03/george-demos-on-rebuilding-of-st-nicholas-in-manhattan/ |archive-date=August 18, 2010 |accessdate=August 5, 2010 |publisher=USA.GreekReporter.com}}{{cite news |last=Katz |first=Celeste |date=July 21, 2010 |title=GOP Hopeful George Demos: Rebuild Church At Ground Zero, Not Mosque |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/07/gop-hopeful-george-demos-rebui.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725190240/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/07/gop-hopeful-george-demos-rebui.html |archivedate=July 25, 2010 |accessdate=August 5, 2010 |work=New York Daily News}}

In September 2011, Demos called on Governor Andrew Cuomo to fire Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Director Christopher Ward for "stonewalling" the church's reconstruction.{{Cite web |last=Papapostolou |first=Apostolos |date=September 7, 2011 |title=George Demos: "Governor Cuomo Must Fire the Man Blocking 9/11 Church Rebuilding" |url=https://greekreporter.com/2011/09/07/george-demos-governor-cuomo-must-fire-the-man-blocking-911-church-rebuilding/ |access-date= |website=Greek Reporter |archive-date=July 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240729034811/https://greekreporter.com/2011/09/07/george-demos-governor-cuomo-must-fire-the-man-blocking-911-church-rebuilding/ |url-status=live }} On October 14, 2011, ten years after the church was destroyed in the 9/11 terror attacks, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese signed an agreement with the Port Authority for the reconstruction of the church.{{Cite web |date=2013-05-12 |title=Historic Church Destroyed On 9/11 To Rise Again - NY1 |url=http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/148968/historic-church-destroyed-on-9-11-to-rise-again |access-date=2024-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512185601/http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/148968/historic-church-destroyed-on-9-11-to-rise-again |archive-date=May 12, 2013 }}

Demos is married to Chrysa Tsakopoulos, daughter of the real estate developer Angelo Tsakopoulos.{{Cite web|title=Demos' bid boosted by wife's family fortune|url=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/demos-house-bid-boosted-by-wife-s-family-fortune-1.7329673|access-date=2020-08-13|website=Newsday|language=en|archive-date=October 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021224225/https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/demos-house-bid-boosted-by-wife-s-family-fortune-1.7329673|url-status=live}} His sister-in-law, Eleni Kounalakis, is the current Lieutenant Governor of California.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100817032819/http://www.georgedemosforcongress.com/ George Demos for Congress]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Demos, George}}

Category:American people of Greek descent

Category:Columbia College (New York) alumni

Category:New York (state) Republicans

Category:Living people

Category:Fordham University School of Law alumni

Category:People from Shelter Island, New York

Category:1976 births

Category:People from Holbrook, New York

Category:UC Davis School of Law faculty