Multiple Labor Department staffers are on leave amid internal probe into Secretary Chavez-DeRemer

[demmiblue]

WASHINGTON — Multiple employees at the Department of Labor have been placed on leave pending an inspector general’s investigation into alleged misconduct by Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, according to two people familiar with the matter.

At least one additional staffer has been temporarily relieved of their duties after two longtime aides were placed on administrative leave earlier this week in connection with the probe, the sources said.

The inspector general is investigating whether Chavez-Remer’s chief of staff, Jihun Han, and his deputy, Rebecca Wright, engaged in “travel fraud” by setting up professional events for their boss as an excuse for personal travel, these people said.

A spokesperson for the Labor Department’s inspector general told NBC News that the office’s policy is “to neither confirm nor deny the existence or nonexistence of any O.I.G. investigation or complaint beyond what is published on our website. D.O.L. O.I.G. remains committed to rooting out fraud, waste, abuse and corruption through objective, independent oversight of the U.S. Department of Labor.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/multiple-labor-department-staffers-are-leave-ig-investigation-secretar-rcna254282

Just another day in the Trump admin. All the finest people.

— Ron Filipkowski (@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social) 2026-01-18T23:57:23.452Z

WASHINGTON — A sprawling internal investigation into Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has uncovered an alcohol “stash” in her Washington, DC, office — and evidence she took subordinates to a strip club while on an official departmental trip, according to five sources familiar with the probe.

The investigation has also confirmed that rumors the secretary pursued an “inappropriate” relationship with an underling were discussed internally months ago and dismissed by her chief of staff Jihun Han — who was put on leave Monday along with his deputy Rebecca Wright, three of the sources affirmed.

The Post first exposed a bombshell complaint that alleged Chavez-DeRemer, 57, had also committed “travel fraud” by having Han and Wright “make up” official trips, was drinking in her office during the workday and enabled a hostile work environment — with her top aides belittling and bullying staffers.

[underpants]

1. probe