In these crazy, radicalized, and tension-filled times, do you know what America needs? A good, old-fashioned, and healthy government scandal. We need a story that unites us, rather than those that focus on what divides us.
And thank goodness, we have Lori Chavez-DeRemer on hand to provide one.
Ten days ago, word leaked out that the Secretary of Labor faced an internal probe over a potentially "inappropriate" relationship with a subordinate. Allegations of a sexual affair involved five assignations, two while on official travel, as well as rumors of day-drinking and misuse of travel funds for other purposes. The White House denied the allegations at the time.
However, the New York Post reported yesterday that the inspector general's investigation found out that the truth was even worse than first thought. Or better, depending on your point of view:
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.
Booze? Strippers? High-ranking government officials bullying aides and making up junkets for romance? Now that's a scandal I can respect. That's a scandal that follows the grand American tradition of sex and corruption, rather than radicalizing mobs to attack churches and turning loose brownshirts in the streets. Like this, for instance:
Anti-ICE protesters in Minneapolis made a man take off his American flag hoodie that said “Freedom”:
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) January 17, 2026
“Take it off and you won’t get hurt!” pic.twitter.com/YmueZRICnO
So, yeah ... three cheers for Chavez-DeRemer.
How much are we paying for this good ol' American abuse of power for petty appetites? We're getting it at a discount, relatively speaking:
Chavez DeRemer was on a five-day visit to her home state of Oregon last spring to meet with Gov. Tina Kotek and the CEO of a local truck manufacturing business and to tour an Intel chip plant when her team took time off to go to the Angels PDX club outside of Portland on April 18, The New York Post reports.
Travel vouchers show the total cost of the trip to Oregon for U.S. taxpayers was $2,890.06, which included $1,324.21 for transportation, $722 for lodging, $655 for meals, and $188.35 for miscellaneous expenses, according to the Post. ...
The “travel fraud” allegations made in the complaint against the secretary, first reported by the Post, accused her of exploiting her stated aim of visiting all 50 states during her first year – which she was unable to realise in full because of the government shutdown, taking in only 37 – by favoring locations in which she had personal ties, including Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and Michigan.
Honestly, that is a very small taxpayer investment in a relatively wholesome and entertaining corruption scandal. Another affordability win for Donald Trump!
All kidding aside, though, this should prompt a housecleaning at the Department of Labor. This bureaucracy has numerous problems already, especially in its data gathering and reporting functions. Chavez-DeRemer should have focused on reforming those functions immediately rather than on her travel schedule. The Bureau of Labor Statistics produces macro-analyses that drive important policy decisions in the executive and legislative branches, not to mentiom the Federal Reserve. Those reports have had increasing issues with credbility that go back to the Obama administration (at least), and have yet to see any significant efforts at reform or revamping.
If heads do roll, Chavez-DeRemer won't be much of a loss anyway. She was a sop to the Teamsters, whose support (or at least benign non-alignment) in 2024 helped propel Trump back into the White House. Of all Trump's Cabinet appointments, Chavez-DeRemer is the least connected to the MAGA base or conservo-populism. As I wrote in February of last year, she's part of the Democrat establishment, so much so that Randi Weingarten endorsed her nomination shortly after the election:
It is significant that the Pres-elect nominated Rep. Chavez-DeRemer for Labor. Her record suggests real support of workers & their right to unionize. I hope it means the Trump admin will actually respect collective bargaining and workers' voices from Teamsters to teachers.
— Randi Weingarten 🇺🇸 🖇️👩🎓📚 (@rweingarten) November 23, 2024
Weingarten's endorsement in light of Chavez-DeRemer's alleged behavior in office certainly lends another amusing note to this scandal. That should prompt some quick consideration of the necessity of defending their Labor Secretary, all by itself. Also, the probe has not yet concluded, so the situation may well get worse:
According to multiple sources familiar with the matter, investigators have conducted at least a dozen interviews with current and former officials, signalling the breadth of the inquiry.
The complaint alleges a pattern of misconduct, including travel fraud, drinking during work hours and the creation of a hostile work environment within the department.
While the inspector general's office has not publicly confirmed or denied the existence of an investigation, the scope of interviews suggests an active and ongoing process. ...
Sources say officials are seeking additional evidence, including travel records, expense documentation and possible video footage, as scrutiny around the secretary and her inner circle intensifies.
Thus far, the scandal hasn't been widely reported, although it does appear to be breaking through a little bit today. The White House has a window here to put distance between itself and Chavez-DeRemer, but that may not last too long if investigators find more dirt at the Department of Labor. Just because the numbers are cheap doesn't mean the scandal won't be costly as interest builds, pun definitely intended. And Chavez-DeRemer simply isn't worth the effort.
