Lori Chavez-DeRemer faces an internal inspector general probe that alleges office alcohol, a strip club outing during official travel, travel-funding irregularities, a possible inappropriate relationship with a subordinate, and a hostile workplace tied to senior aides.
An inspector general investigation led under former Rep. Anthony D’Esposito has put Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer under scrutiny for several alleged ethics breaches. Investigators report finding an alcohol stash in the secretary’s Washington, D.C., office and point to a strip club visit during an April 2025 trip to Oregon. The probe also looks at claims of travel fund misuse, an improper relationship with a subordinate, and a workplace culture shaped by top aides.
Two senior staffers, Chief of Staff Jihun Han and Deputy Rebecca Wright, were placed on leave as the inquiry widened, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The complaint that triggered the probe was filed last month and prompted more than a dozen interviews with officials and staff. Investigators are tracing travel logs, calendars, and expense records to determine if official events were used to justify personal trips.
Allegations include travel fraud tied to several personal trips that overlapped with government travel for conferences and meetings. Records show a five-day Oregon trip that cost $2,890.06 and ended with a visit to Angels PDX on April 18, and schedules indicate multiple visits to Nevada locations like Red Rocks Casino Resort and Spa. Officials note instances where trips labeled as official appear to have included private activities and nights out.
The Oregon itinerary did include public-facing stops such as meeting Gov. Tina Kotek and touring an Intel facility, but sources say the trip took an unexpected turn late in the evening. Taxpayer-funded transportation, lodging, and meals are in question when official travel transitions into nightlife. Even trips claimed as personal overlap with official travel windows, which complicates ethics reviews and raises concerns over whether public funds were used appropriately.
Travel scrutiny reaches beyond Oregon and Nevada, with a December Palm Beach trip for an America First Policy Institute event also under examination. Ethics officials reportedly warned about self-funding parts of a five-day visit, yet investigators say an “official” dinner was scheduled for just Chavez-DeRemer and Wright. Patterns like that prompt questions about internal decision-making and how expense rules were applied.
Staff dynamics are a central part of the inquiry, with allegations that aides protected the secretary and intimidated junior employees who raised concerns. Sources allege Han told staff to “leave it alone” when rumors surfaced months ago, and Wright is accused of dismissing alignment with broader administration priorities. Those claims suggest a workplace where loyalty to leadership may have overridden accountability.
Chavez-DeRemer’s lawyer, Dr. Nick Oberheiden, issued a firm denial: “Secretary Chavez-DeRemer firmly denies any allegations of wrongdoing.” The department’s public-facing statements have largely declined to engage with the ongoing investigation, which leaves many questions unanswered as investigators review calendars, expense reports, and witness testimony. The inspector general has not commented on the existence or status of the probe.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the secretary publicly, saying, “He’s aware of the internal investigation, and he stands by the secretary, and he thinks that she’s doing a tremendous job at the Department of Labor on behalf of American workers.” That endorsement contrasts with concerns about whether senior aides misled others and whether department culture tolerated behavior that undercuts morale and trust. Chavez-DeRemer set a goal to visit all 50 states in 2025 but reached about 36, and investigators note that of her 53 official trips, 10 were to Nevada or to states with family ties like Oregon, Arizona, and Michigan.
Reports of staff running personal errands on government time and of events scrubbed from calendars add another layer to the inquiry, raising questions about oversight and internal controls. Ethics personnel reportedly raised objections that sources say were set aside, which would suggest deliberate choices to bypass standard procedures. As the investigation proceeds, the focus remains on whether actions and choices violated policies and whether those responsible will be held to account.
