US Labor Secretary Faces Misconduct Allegations Over Strip Club Visit
An internal investigation has uncovered evidence that US Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer took members of her staff to a strip club during an official government trip. The findings come from an inquiry conducted by the Department of Labor's inspector general into allegations of misconduct against the secretary.
Details of the Oregon Trip
The incident allegedly occurred on April 18 last year during a five-day official visit to Oregon, Chavez-DeRemer's home state. The trip included several official engagements:
- Meetings with Oregon Governor Tina Kotek
- Discussions with the chief executive of a local truck manufacturing company
- A tour of an Intel chip plant
During this visit, Chavez-DeRemer and members of her team reportedly visited Angels PDX, a strip club located outside Portland.
Taxpayer Costs and Travel Expenses
Travel vouchers reviewed by The New York Post reveal that the Oregon trip cost US taxpayers $2,890.06. The breakdown of expenses includes:
- $1,324.21 for transportation
- $722 for lodging
- $655 for meals
- $188.35 in miscellaneous expenses
Secretary's Denial and Additional Allegations
Chavez-DeRemer has firmly denied the allegations through her lawyer, Nick Oberheiden. In a statement, Oberheiden said, "Secretary Chavez-DeRemer firmly denies any allegations of wrongdoing."
The strip club allegation represents just one set of claims against the secretary. On January 9, a formal complaint was lodged with the department's inspector general, Anthony D'Esposito, accusing Chavez-DeRemer of multiple violations:
- Abusing her authority
- Keeping alcohol in her office
- Having an extramarital affair with a subordinate
- Misusing official travel
The complaint further alleged that her staff were aware of these matters and were instructed to create work trips that allowed the secretary to spend time with friends and family.
White House Response and Travel Fraud Claims
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Donald Trump was aware of the investigation and continues to support the secretary. "He's aware of the internal investigation, and he stands by the secretary, and he thinks that she's doing a tremendous job at the Department of Labor on behalf of American workers," Leavitt said.
The complaint also accused Chavez-DeRemer of "travel fraud," alleging she favored states where she had personal connections while pursuing a goal of visiting all 50 states in her first year. She reportedly visited 37 states before a government shutdown halted travel.
Chavez-DeRemer's husband, Dr. Shawn DeRemer, has rejected claims of an affair. The Department of Labor has emphasized that the investigation does not imply wrongdoing.
