Lori Chavez-DeRemer, President Trump's Secretary of Labor, is leaving her post. The White House confirmed her departure Monday, citing multiple allegations of professional misconduct. Her exit follows a period of internal investigation, with reports of misconduct surfacing as early as January. Chavez-DeRemer has denied wrongdoing.
The probe, spearheaded by the department's inspector general, reportedly centers on claims of abusing her position, including an alleged affair with a subordinate and on-the-job alcohol consumption. Investigators are also reviewing material concerning alleged routine personal messages and requests sent by Chavez-DeRemer and her close aides to younger staff members, using taxpayer resources for personal errands and trips.
The departure marks the third Cabinet-level resignation or dismissal during Trump's second term. Earlier this month, Attorney General Pam Bondi left amidst controversy over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. In March, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was removed from her position.
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Chavez-DeRemer's chief of staff and deputy chief of staff had previously gone on leave in January, subsequently resigning in early March. A member of Chavez-DeRemer's security detail, also reportedly involved in the investigations, had been on leave since January and subsequently quit.
Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling is set to assume the role of acting secretary, according to White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung.
Chavez-DeRemer, a former House representative from Oregon, spent a significant portion of her tenure away from Washington. The Labor Department's headquarters itself drew criticism earlier this year for displaying a large banner of Trump's face, a move also seen as controversial.
An attorney representing Chavez-DeRemer previously stated it was not in her client's "interest to comment on unverified (and unverifiable) information that potentially stems from inside sources like investigators who, under federal law, would have been barred from disclosing investigate details."
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' Labor Secretary ', ' Trump Administration ', ' Misconduct Allegations '.
