USA04 September, 20262 min read
Labor Department Inspector General Report Says Lori Chavez-DeRemer Oversaw Toxic Workplace, Misused Funds
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Inspector General report finds Chavez-DeRemer oversaw toxic, intimidating, humiliating work environment at Labor Dept. She violated department policy including misusing funds and personal travel on government resources.
Inspector General report details
A new report from the Labor Department’s Office of Inspector General says former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer oversaw a “toxic, intimidating and humiliating” work environment and repeatedly violated department policy. The report alleges Chavez-DeRemer “engaged in an inappropriate relationship” with a member of her security detail and repeatedly directed staff to perform personal tasks on government time. It also accuses her of inappropriately combining personal and official travel, violating the department’s alcohol policies, and failing to report gifts through proper channels.
Investigators based the allegations on interviews with dozens of current and former labor department staffers and a review of more than 500 documents, images and videos. The report says Chavez-DeRemer resigned earlier this year and could not immediately be reached for comment.
Oregon trip and gifts
The Office of Inspector General report describes a personal trip to Oregon in which Chavez-DeRemer allegedly stopped at a strip club and directed her limousine driver to come inside and give money to a performer. The report says she then “took additional money from her purse and asked the agent to drop the bills one by one onto the partially nude woman,” despite his hesitation. CNN reported that the investigation found Chavez-DeRemer violated department policy by drinking alcohol at the office and telling her staff to perform personal tasks for her.
CNN also quoted a Department of Labor spokesperson saying the agency “respects the integrity of the Inspector General’s investigation.” NBC News reported that the inspector general’s 44-page report was released Thursday and that it accused Chavez-DeRemer of creating a hostile work environment and using government funds for personal travel.
Workplace, accountability, fallout
The watchdog report also alleges that senior staff “routinely engaged in threatening, demeaning, and abusive verbal and written communication” in Chavez-DeRemer’s office. NBC News said the inspector general’s office did not determine whether the conduct described was sufficient to constitute unlawful discrimination, retaliation, or a hostile work environment under federal law. NBC News reported that Chavez-DeRemer’s attorney, Nick Oberheiden, said in a statement, “Secretary Chavez-DeRemer did not violate any law.”
The AP report says the office concluded the relationship “appeared to continue even after he was placed on administrative leave and was suspended from his official duties.” CNN reported that Chavez-DeRemer departed the Labor Department earlier this year for a job in the private sector, and that Keith Sonderling was appointed as acting secretary after her departure.