Chavez-deremer's Husband Barred From Dol Headquarters

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer's husband has been barred from the agency’s headquarters after at least two female employees alleged that he acted improperly toward them, according to a person with knowledge of the investigation.

Security staffers who work at DOL’s Frances Perkins Building received a message in late January instructing them not to allow Shawn DeRemer to enter the building, said the person, who was granted anonymity to discuss the matter.

The New York Times reported on Thursday that the District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police Department received a complaint days earlier regarding an incident at the facility in December.

A copy of the Jan. 24 police report obtained by POLITICO states that a “complainant reported a sexual contact against her will” at DOL’s offices on Dec. 18. Other details, including the name of the alleged victim, were labeled as confidential, and MPD said the investigation is active.

The Times article also included allegations of a separate incident involving another female employee who indicated that DeRemer had touched her inappropriately.

DeRemer did not respond to an email seeking comment. An outside attorney for Chavez-DeRemer said he does not represent her husband and had no comment.

DOL spokespeople did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The person familiar with the investigation confirmed that the allegation came up amid a series of interviews being conducted by DOL’s inspector general as part of a broader probe of the Labor secretary and her staff that has been underway since early January.

Chavez-DeRemer’s chief of staff and deputy chief of staff have been placed on leave for weeks, pending the internal investigation. A member of Chavez-DeRemer’s security detail has also been taken off duty after being accused of having a romantic relationship with the Labor secretary that she has denied.

DOL Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito, a former Republican congressman, is also looking into allegations that Chavez-DeRemer scheduled official events to facilitate her personal travel agenda and drank on the job, and that the two top aides improperly influenced grantmaking decisions to benefit the secretary’s political standing.

The White House has so far stuck by Chavez-DeRemer despite the salacious nature of some of the allegations brought against her and her inner circle.