WASHINGTON — Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is below an inner investigation following an explosive grievance alleging she’s been “abusing her place” by pursuing an “inappropriate” relationship with a subordinate, in response to sources and paperwork reviewed by The Publish.
Chavez-DeRemer, 57, has welcomed her alleged paramour no less than thrice to her DC condominium and twice into her lodge room whereas touring, alleges a grievance filed with the Division of Labor’s (DOL) Workplace of Inspector Basic final week, which has since begun a probe.
The previous Oregon congresswoman can be accused of consuming in her workplace in the course of the workday and committing “journey fraud” by having her chief of employees and deputy chief of employees “make up” official journeys to locations the place Chavez-DeRemer can spend time with household or buddies on the taxpayers’ dime.
White Home spokeswoman Taylor Rogers referred to as the allegations “baseless.”
“Secretary Chavez-DeRemer is an unimaginable asset to President Trump’s group and she’s going to proceed advancing the President’s America First agenda,” Rogers stated 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 employees Jihun Han, and deputy chief of employees Rebecca Wright — whom the grievance alleges are “concerned and have information of those points” — are all now below investigation by the DOL’s Workplace of Inspector Basic, in response to sources and paperwork.
“These unsubstantiated allegations are categorically false,” stated 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 battle these baseless accusations from nameless sources.”
A spokesperson for the DOL’s inspector common’s workplace, which is run by former New York GOP Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, stated: “It’s the coverage of the DOL OIG to neither affirm nor deny the existence or non-existence of any OIG investigation or grievance past what’s printed on our web site.”
“DOL OIG stays dedicated to rooting out fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption by 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 befell in September, after the mom-of-two instructed her safety element that safety wasn’t wanted, in response to the IG grievance.
A 3rd alleged go to occurred on the similar DC condominium in October, when the person waited till the brokers defending the secretary went house earlier than driving over, the grievance famous.
The subordinate allegedly entangled with the secretary instructed the Publish, “I acquired attorneys, so I’m not gonna discuss to you. I’ve nothing to say.” He declined to supply his attorneys’ contact data.
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 party whereas the federal authorities was shut down, pictures and movies obtained by The Publish present.
The grievance stated that further video footage from the lodge reveals the pair partaking in unprofessional habits on no less than 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 employees, Han, to “go away it alone,” the grievance acknowledged.
The grievance additionally described Chavez-DeRemer consuming in her workplace — with references to “a stash” of champagne, bourbon and Kahlua that she retains there.
In 2025, the DOL spent tons of of 1000’s of taxpayer {dollars} for the secretary to go to 37 states on greater than 50 official journeys, in response to sources and official journey schedules.
At the very least 10 of these visits have been to Nevada or areas the place she has private ties — together with her house state of Oregon; Arizona, the place she and her anesthesiologist husband have a house that’s listed as a major 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,” stated 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 response to schedules reviewed by The Publish.
Whereas on official journey, Chavez-DeRemer will converse for half-hour to an hour after which does “private stuff” and “goes out consuming at evening” on the federal government’s dime, in response to the grievance.
“The New York Publish was unable to supply any proof to corroborate these baseless claims on this ‘report’ supposedly filed by a FORMER disgruntled worker,” Rogers, from the White Home, stated 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 motels and $4,345 on limo and chauffeur providers.
Such use of marketing campaign funds will not be prohibited by federal legislation and Chavez-DeRemer was not accused of violating election legal guidelines.
