Husband of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer accused of sexually assaulting 2 staffers
Author: Amy-Xiaoshi DePaola, Katherine Cook
WASHINGTON D.C., DC — The husband of Lori Chavez-DeRemer, U.S. Labor Secretary and former Oregon congresswoman, has been banned from agency headquarters after reportedly sexually assaulting at least two staffers, according to reporting by the New York Times.
The New York Times cited sources and a police report filed in December at the Labor Department. The women alleged that Chavez-DeRemer's husband, Dr. Shawn DeRemer, had touched them inappropriately while at the Labor Department's building, located on Constitution Avenue.
One of the incidents was recorded on office security cameras, the NYT said, involving DeRemer giving a woman "an extended embrace" during one of his frequent visits to his wife's D.C. offices. DeRemer is an anesthesiologist based in Portland.
The women's allegations were raised during an internal Labor Department investigation in January regarding alleged misconduct by DeRemer and her senior staff. On Jan. 24, a report from Washington's Metropolitan Police Department was filed regarding the "forced sexual contact" in December. Police told the New York Times that the agency's sexual assault unit is still investigating.
The police report, obtained by KGW, noted the incident occurred on Dec. 18, redacting the victim's names. The Metropolitan Police Department added in an email to KGW that it "cannot confirm the names of potential suspects or witnesses."
After the staffers reported the incidents, DeRemer was banned from entering Labor Department premises, the New York Times reported, with a building restriction notice posted: "If Mr. DeRemer attempts to enter, he is to be asked to leave."
DeRemer, a Department of Labor spokesperson and a lawyer representing Chavez-DeRemer in the Labor's Office of Inspector General investigation all declined to comment to the New York Times.
In 2024, Chavez-DeRemer was named, then confirmed, as President Donald Trump's Labor Secretary, shortly after losing her reelection bid to Rep. Janelle Bynum, a Democrat, for Oregon's 5th Congressional District.
Chavez-DeRemer earned criticism from Oregon politicians after an August Cabinet meeting, where she urged Trump and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to "crack down" on Portland — not long before the administration attempted to deploy National Guard troops in the city. That effort was stymied by a lengthy legal battle, culminating with the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals refusing to overturn the permanent injunction issued by U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut. Said injunction barred the administration from deploying any National Guard troops to Portland in response to protests outside the ICE building in the South Waterfront.
Several months later, Chavez-DeRemer and several staffers were at the center of an internal complaint, which accused Chavez-DeRemer of pursuing an "inappropriate" relationship with a subordinate, would instruct staffers to "make up" official trips for vacations with friends and family, have aides run personal errands, and drink in the office during workdays. During the ongoing investigation, Chavez-DeRemer's chief of staff and deputy chief of staff, as well as several members of her security staff, have been placed on leave.
KGW has reached out to the Labor Department and Dr. Shawn DeRemer's office but has not yet heard back.
