Escalation: Fourth Aide Fired Amid Investigation

Melissa Robey, the Labor Department’s director of advance, was fired after being placed on leave March 4 amid the misconduct investigation into Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. She is the fourth staffer tied to the probe to leave. Unlike the others, she met with the inspector general before her firing, which can compel cooperation from current employees but not former staff.

Robey handled event preparation and travel for the secretary. She said investigators questioned her for booking a Ford Expedition instead of a smaller foreign-made car on a North Dakota trip, which she said she chose for safety and to use an American-made vehicle for a Cabinet official. She also accused department officials of orchestrating leaks to embarrass her and force her out.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources