DevelopingGeneralTimeline
Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer Scandal
Updated 11 updatessince 90 outlets
Report from the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General detailed serious misconduct by former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
Timeline
Now
Report from the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General detailed serious misconduct by former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
12 sources · Fox News, New York Times
President Trump nominated Keith Sonderling as the permanent U.S. Secretary of Labor, a position he has been filling since the resignation of Lori Chavez-DeRemer in April.
5 sources · The Guardian, Redstate
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-Deremer Resigns
De-escalationLori Chavez-DeRemer has resigned as Labor Secretary, effective immediately, amid a federal misconduct investigation that included allegations of personal conduct and misuse of office resources. The White House confirmed her departure, stating she will transition to a position in the private sector.
33 sources · New York Times, Bloomberg
Internal investigation into Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has uncovered inappropriate text messages sent to staffers by her husband, Dr. Shawn DeRemer, and her father, Richard Chavez.
16 sources · Washington Post, NPR
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is now facing at least three formal workplace discrimination complaints. These allegations, linked to the misconduct of her husband, Dr. Shawn DeRemer, include claims of a hostile work environment and retaliation against female staffers who reported inappropriate behavior.
11 sources · New York Times, CNBC
Fourth Aide Fired Amid Investigation
EscalationMelissa Robey was terminated from her position as director of advance in the Labor Department amid an ongoing investigation into Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer for misconduct.
13 sources · New York Times, NPR
Melissa Robey, director of advance for Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, was placed on administrative leave as the Office of Inspector General's investigation into alleged misconduct grows.
5 sources · New York Times, Politico
Jihun Han and Rebecca Wright resign
EscalationLabor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer's chief of staff, Jihun Han, and deputy, Rebecca Wright, resigned after being told to leave or face termination as the Department of Labor's inspector general investigates misconduct allegations.
12 sources · NPR, Reuters
Dr. Shawn DeRemer, the husband of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, has been banned from the Department of Labor's headquarters following allegations of sexual assault involving two female employees.
14 sources · The Guardian, The Daily Beast
Department of Labor's Chief of Staff Jihun Han and Deputy Chief of Staff Rebecca Wright have both been placed on administrative leave due to their involvement in alleged misconduct related to Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
6 sources · New York Times, NBC News
Covered by 2 outlets
10 sources · ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
- Origin Jan 10, 2026
The story so far
As of September 4, 2026
This story is the collapse of Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s tenure as labor secretary into an official record of misconduct. On Sept. 4, the Labor Department’s inspector general released a report finding she violated department rules, fostered a hostile work environment, misused public funds for personal travel, directed staff to run personal errands, and drank during working hours while storing alcohol on federal property. The report also described an inappropriate relationship with a member of her security detail and an episode in which she told a security officer to place cash on a dancer at a strip club during a personal trip.
The findings explain the earlier turmoil around her office. Her chief of staff, Jihun Han, and deputy, Rebecca Wright, resigned under pressure in March; the director of advance, Melissa Robey, was first put on leave and then fired; and at least three formal workplace discrimination complaints were filed by April. Investigators uncovered inappropriate messages to young staff from Chavez-DeRemer’s husband, Dr. Shawn DeRemer, and her father, Richard Chavez. Her husband was barred from Labor Department headquarters after complaints from female employees, though no criminal charges were brought.
Chavez-DeRemer resigned on April 20, saying she would move to the private sector, before sitting for an interview with investigators. The inspector general did not establish that a sexual relationship occurred with the bodyguard but deemed the relationship inappropriate and detailed repeated misuse of authority and resources. What had been disputed allegations are now formal findings that give the department a basis to tighten rules and take personnel actions where warranted.
Since her departure, Keith Sonderling has led the department and was nominated on June 29 to serve as secretary permanently. The stakes have shifted from her fate to the institution’s credibility: a $14 billion agency with about 16,000 employees needs to show it can insulate staff from interference by officials’ family members, keep security and travel within clear limits, and restore a professional workplace. The inspector general’s report now anchors that repair effort and frames what the Senate will weigh as it considers new leadership.
Each entry is synthesized by AI from the reports linked on it, and labeled with the kind of change it represents. How Frameshift works · What the labels mean · Report an error
In the app
Read this timeline in Frameshift
Four stories are free on the web. The full Vault, with every timeline and brief, is in the app.