Sept. 4 (UPI) — Former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer misused public funds, fostered a hostile work environment and carried out an inappropriate relationship while in President Donald Trump‘s Cabinet, a federal watchdog report said Friday.
Chavez-DeRemer resigned from her government post in April after a whistleblower accused her and her aides of professional misconduct. The Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Labor conducted an investigation into the allegations, interviewing 53 current and former staffers and found evidence she oversaw a “toxic, intimidating and humiliating” work environment.
The months-long investigation found evidence of misconduct by Chavez-DeRemer across six areas detailed in a 44-page report.
After an anonymous complaint to the inspector general’s hotline, the watchdog found that she and her aides openly discussed employee performance in front of other staff, including whether employees had cried during meetings. Those interviewed said after Chavez-DeRemer joined the department, there was “widespread fear and job insecurity” and multiple people were threatened with termination. They said she also selected staff members based on appearance rather than experience and professional qualifications.
The report also found she “developed and maintained an inappropriately close and unprofessional relationship with” an employee identified only as ASAIC 1 — assistant special agent in charge. This happened while the employee “exercised supervisory and operational authority over her protective detail that was inconsistent with federal impartiality and preferential-treatment standards.”
The report said that while investigators found no definitive proof of an affair between Chavez-DeRemer and ASAIC 1, there was surveillance evidence of him arriving and leaving her residence suggesting he stayed there overnight.
The watchdog also found that the former secretary and her aides combined personal and professional travel, often making government-related travel decisions based on personal destinations. When career employees pointed out that the travel arrangements might be violating government standards, they were removed from travel-planning duties, the OIG found.
Investigators also found that Chavez-DeRemer and her aides kept a supply of alcoholic beverages in her government office and they consumed alcohol during official duty hours. Witnesses also said that when employees declined to join them for alcoholic drinks, they were pressured or ridiculed.
Additionally, multiple examples were cited of Chavez-DeRemer directing subordinates to carry out personal errands for her during official work hours, including picking up her laundry; organizing her closet; retrieving packages from her residential mailroom and delivering them to her home; purchasing personal items including gifts and alcohol and not always reimbursing the employee; and overseeing movers and other workers at her home.
Finally, the OIG found that Chavez-DeRemer failed to report gifts she received as a government employee, including tickets to a rodeo, an alligator-hide wallet and two cowboy hats.
Since resigning from office, Chavez-DeRemer created the American Workers First PAC for Republican campaign funding. Keith Sonderling is acting labor secretary and is awaiting full confirmation from the Senate.
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