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US Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is under investigation for alleged workplace misconduct and misuse of official resources. The complaint claims the secretary invited the staffer to her private residence three times and to her hotel room on two separate trips.
The filing also accuses Chavez-DeRemer of drinking during work hours and keeping alcohol in her office. (Photo: AP)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 20, 2026 02:08 IST
US Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is facing an internal investigation after a formal complaint accused her of abusing her position by pursuing an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate, drinking on the job, misusing taxpayer-funded travel, and taking staff to a strip club during an official trip.
According to New York Post, the complaint was filed last week with the Department of Labour’s Office of Inspector General and alleges that Chavez-DeRemer repeatedly hosted a subordinate at her Washington, DC apartment and in hotel rooms during official travel.
The complaint claims the secretary invited the staffer to her private residence three times and to her hotel room on two separate trips. During one such meeting, she allegedly told her security she did not need protection, the Post reported.
The filing also accuses Chavez-DeRemer of drinking during work hours and keeping alcohol — including champagne, bourbon and Kahlua — in her office. It further alleges travel fraud, claiming staff were instructed to design official trips that allowed her to spend time with family and friends, according to the report.
Sources cited by the Post described the 57-year-old secretary as a boss from hell, alleging she routinely asked aides to run personal errands and perform non-official tasks during work hours.
Chavez-DeRemer previously represented Oregon’s 5th Congressional District from 2023 to 2025 and served as mayor of Happy Valley from 2011 to 2019 before being appointed to President Donald Trump’s cabinet.
STRIP CLUB VISIT ON OFFICIAL TRIP
A separate allegation cited in the report claims that during an official trip to Oregon in April last year, Chavez-DeRemer and members of her staff visited Angels PDX, a strip club outside Portland.
The Post reported that the five-day trip cost taxpayers $2,890.06, including transportation, lodging, meals and miscellaneous expenses.
Her lawyer, Nick Oberheiden, said the Secretary "firmly denies any allegations of wrongdoing".
The department has confirmed that several staff members who previously worked with Chavez-DeRemer have been placed on administrative leave, though it remains unclear who is currently managing her office, according to Politico.
Chavez-DeRemer’s husband, Shawn DeRemer, dismissed claims of an affair, saying, "There’s not an ounce of truth to this, and anyone who knows my wife would know that."
The White House acknowledged the investigation but said the President continues to support the labour Secretary. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump believes Chavez-DeRemer is "doing a tremendous job at the Department of Labour on behalf of American workers".
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Published By:
Satyam Singh
Published On:
Jan 20, 2026
