Authorities have barred Dr. Shawn DeRemer, husband of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, from entering the Department of Labor headquarters in Washington, D.C., following allegations from two female staffers that he sexually assaulted them on agency grounds, according to The New York Times.
The incidents reportedly occurred in December at the Labor Department building on Constitution Avenue, with one episode captured on security cameras.
Security footage allegedly shows Dr. DeRemer giving one staffer an extended embrace, prompting a criminal investigation by Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department Sexual Assault Unit.
A building restriction notice instructs security personnel to ask him to leave immediately if he attempts to enter the premises, the outlet reported.
The complaints, filed in late January, detail unwanted sexual contact.
One police report obtained by Politico describes an incident on Dec. 18 in which a staffer reported forced sexual contact. Names of the alleged victims and other identifying details have been withheld to protect privacy.
The Labor Department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) is conducting a broader inquiry into alleged misconduct involving Secretary Chavez-DeRemer and her staff.
The investigation reportedly examines claims of an inappropriate relationship between the secretary and a member of her security detail, potential misuse of official travel for personal purposes, and alcohol consumption during work hours.
In connection with the probe, the secretary’s chief of staff and deputy chief of staff have been placed on administrative leave.
Additionally, a member of the security detail has been removed from duty while investigators review allegations of improper conduct, KGW8 reported.
Dr. DeRemer, an anesthesiologist based in Portland, Oregon, has not been criminally charged.
Neither he nor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer has commented publicly. A lawyer representing the secretary declined to discuss her husband, and a Labor Department spokesperson also withheld comment.
The investigation has intensified scrutiny of ethics and accountability at the Department of Labor.
Reports indicate the OIG is reviewing whether official resources were used for personal benefit, including taxpayer-funded travel, and whether aides improperly influenced departmental decisions for political or personal gain, according to Newsmax.
Secretary Chavez-DeRemer, a former Oregon congresswoman appointed by President Donald Trump, has faced prior criticism over administrative management and staff oversight.
The White House has reiterated its support, emphasizing that she continues to comply with ethics rules while fulfilling her duties.
“The Secretary has complied with all ethics rules and Department policies and remains fully engaged in carrying out the Department’s work on behalf of this historic Administration,” Courtney Parella, a department spokesperson, told the New York Post.
She added that Chavez-DeRemer “is considering all possible avenues, including legal action, to fight these baseless accusations from anonymous sources.”
Authorities and internal investigators continue to review video evidence, conduct interviews, and pursue additional leads to determine whether criminal charges or administrative actions are warranted.
The high-profile nature of the case has renewed focus on operational oversight, security protocols, and accountability within the Department of Labor in Washington, D.C., highlighting challenges in monitoring behavior at the highest levels of federal agencies.
