WASHINGTON — Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is below an inside investigation following an explosive grievance alleging she’s been “abusing her place” by pursuing an “inappropriate” relationship with a subordinate, in line with sources and paperwork reviewed by The Publish.
Chavez-DeRemer, 57, has welcomed her alleged paramour at the least thrice to her DC residence and twice into her lodge room whereas touring, alleges a grievance filed with the Division of Labor’s (DOL) Workplace of Inspector Normal final week, which has since begun a probe.
The previous Oregon congresswoman can also be accused of ingesting in her workplace in the course of the workday and committing “journey fraud” by having her chief of workers and deputy chief of workers “make up” official journeys to locations the place Chavez-DeRemer can spend time with household or mates on the taxpayers’ dime.
White Home spokeswoman Taylor Rogers known as the allegations “baseless.”
“Secretary Chavez-DeRemer is an unimaginable asset to President Trump’s workforce and she’s going to proceed advancing the President’s America First agenda,” Rogers mentioned in a press release.
Sources additionally accused her of being a “boss from hell,” by forcing aides to run private errands or carry out different menial duties whereas on the clock.
Chavez-DeRemer, chief of workers Jihun Han, and deputy chief of workers Rebecca Wright — whom the grievance alleges are “concerned and have data of those points” — are all now below investigation by the DOL’s Workplace of Inspector Normal, in line with sources and paperwork.
“These unsubstantiated allegations are categorically false,” mentioned DOL spokesperson Courtney Parella. “Secretary Chavez-DeRemer has complied with all ethics guidelines and Division insurance policies and stays totally engaged in finishing up the Division’s work on behalf of this historic Administration. The Secretary is contemplating all attainable avenues, together with authorized motion, to struggle these baseless accusations from nameless sources.”
A spokesperson for the DOL’s inspector basic’s workplace, which is run by former New York GOP Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, mentioned: “It’s the coverage of the DOL OIG to neither verify nor deny the existence or non-existence of any OIG investigation or grievance past what’s revealed on our web site.”
“DOL OIG stays dedicated to rooting out fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption by way of goal, unbiased oversight of the U.S. Division of Labor,” the rep added. D’Esposito referred The Publish to an IG spokesperson for remark.
Two purported meet-ups between Chavez-DeRemer and her alleged affair accomplice happened in September, after the mom-of-two informed her safety element that safety wasn’t wanted, in line with the IG grievance.
A 3rd alleged go to occurred on the similar DC residence in October, when the person waited till the brokers defending the secretary went dwelling earlier than driving over, the grievance famous.
The subordinate allegedly entangled with the secretary informed the Publish, “I acquired attorneys, so I’m not gonna discuss to you. I’ve nothing to say.” He declined to offer his attorneys’ contact info.
Chavez-DeRemer and the staffer traveled collectively to the Pink Rocks On line casino Resort and Spa in Las Vegas in late October to have a good time her niece’s fortieth birthday celebration whereas the federal authorities was shut down, images and movies obtained by The Publish present.
The grievance mentioned that further video footage from the lodge reveals the pair partaking in unprofessional conduct on at the least two journeys to Vegas in 2025. The Publish has not seen the alleged footage.
When phrase of the alleged misconduct started circulating within the division, Chavez-DeRemer instructed her chief of workers, Han, to “go away it alone,” the grievance said.
The grievance additionally described Chavez-DeRemer ingesting in her workplace — with references to “a stash” of champagne, bourbon and Kahlua that she retains there.
In 2025, the DOL spent lots of of hundreds of taxpayer {dollars} for the secretary to go to 37 states on greater than 50 official journeys, in line with sources and official journey schedules.
Not less than 10 of these visits have been to Nevada or areas the place she has private ties — together with her dwelling state of Oregon; Arizona, the place she and her anesthesiologist husband have a house that’s listed as a main residence in mortgage paperwork, as ProPublica first reported; and Michigan, the place her daughter resides.
“There’s not an oz of fact to this, and anybody who is aware of my spouse would know that,” mentioned Chavez-DeRemer’s husband, Dr. Shawn DeRemer, of the allegations in a press release.
In November alone, the labor secretary went on 5 journeys, three of which have been listed in her personal journey schedules as “private” and included stops in Michigan, Oregon and California, in line with schedules reviewed by The Publish.
Whereas on official journey, Chavez-DeRemer will communicate for half-hour to an hour after which does “private stuff” and “goes out ingesting at night time” on the federal government’s dime, in line with the grievance.
“The New York Publish was unable to offer any proof to corroborate these baseless claims on this ‘report’ supposedly filed by a FORMER disgruntled worker,” Rogers, from the White Home, mentioned in a press release. “Moreover, they have been unable to current any proof that this ‘report’ was ever even filed. Reporting on these allegations with none proof to again them is primary journalistic malpractice.”
Chavez-DeRemer didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Throughout her failed 2024 Home re-election bid, Chavez-DeRemer splurged on greater than $56,000 on luxurious resorts and $4,345 on limo and chauffeur companies.
Such use of marketing campaign funds aren’t prohibited by federal regulation and Chavez-DeRemer was not accused of violating election legal guidelines.
