Donald Trump's Secretary of Labor, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, is under formal investigation following a bombshell complaint alleging serious misconduct, including taking staff to a strip club on an official trip and presiding over a culture of 'travel fraud'.
Core Allegations and Internal Probe
The Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General has launched an internal inquiry based on a complaint accusing Chavez-DeRemer of unprofessional conduct and using her position to be a 'boss from Hell'. The complaint, first reported by The New York Post, has led to multiple employees being placed on administrative leave pending the outcome.
Central to the allegations is an incident in April, where Chavez-DeRemer is said to have taken subordinates to a strip club called Angels PDX in Oregon. This occurred at the end of a five-day official trip that included meetings with the state's Democratic Governor Tina Kotek and a tour of an Intel facility. Documents indicate $2,890.06 in taxpayer funds was used for the Oregon trip.
Pattern of Misconduct and Travel Fraud
Beyond the strip club visit, the complaint outlines a pattern of alleged abuses. Senior staffers are accused of fabricating business trips to visit family and friends using public money. Chavez-DeRemer herself is alleged to have used official travel extensively for personal reasons, with ten of her first 50 trips going to Nevada, Oregon, Michigan, or Arizona—states linked to her family and personal homes.
Further claims include maintaining a private alcohol stash—bourbon, Kahlua, and champagne—in her Washington D.C. office, drinking on the job, and forcing aides to run personal errands. The complaint also details an alleged inappropriate relationship with a subordinate, with meetings arranged after security details were dismissed, and joint trips to venues like the Red Rocks Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
Fierce Denials and Political Fallout
Chavez-DeRemer and her team have vehemently denied all accusations. A White House spokesperson, Taylor Rogers, called the claims 'baseless' and accused the New York Post of 'journalistic malpractice'. The Secretary's lawyer stated she 'firmly denies any allegations of wrongdoing'. Her husband of over 40 years, Dr. Shawn DeRemer, also publicly defended her, saying, 'There's not an ounce of truth to this'.
A Department of Labor spokesperson, Courtney Parella, said the Secretary was 'considering all possible avenues, including legal action'. The Office of the Inspector General declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.
The scandal casts a shadow over a Cabinet official who was confirmed by the Senate with significant bipartisan support in March, receiving 67 votes including 17 from Democrats. Her confirmation process was already contentious, with Chavez-DeRemer backtracking on prior union-supportive legislation like the PRO Act to gain Republican backing.
