Lori Chavez-DeRemer has done a "phenomenal job," writes White House communications director Steven Cheung in an X post announcing that the secretary is leaving for the private sector.
This comes shortly before the Labor Department's internal investigation into her, which was initiated after a whistleblower alert, is completed, writes The New York Times. The Senate Judiciary Committee has also requested material for its own investigation.
Luxury hotels and drinks
The internal investigation is looking into allegations that the secretary had an affair with a member of her security team, as well as claims that she took private trips, stayed at luxury hotels and had the department foot the bill, according to the newspaper. Employees also reportedly raised the alarm that the 58-year-old former congresswoman from Oregon was drinking alcohol during work hours and sending inappropriate text messages to younger colleagues.
There are concerns that the internal investigation contains embarrassing details, and several of Chavez-DeRemer's closest associates have quit in recent months, according to The New York Times.
In parallel, the secretary's husband, Shawn DeRemer, has been denied access to the department building after several female employees accused him of sexual harassment, the newspaper writes.
Three women
Lori Chavez-DeRemer has not been formally charged with misconduct, and Donald Trump has called the accusations against her “baseless,” notes Axios. Her work is now being taken over by Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling, who will be given an acting role.
Chavez-DeRemer is the third secretary from Donald Trump's government to be forced out in a short period of time.
In April, Pam Bondi was forced to resign as attorney general, amid frustration over her handling of the so-called Epstein documents - material from the investigation into convicted and now-dead sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. And in March, Kristi Noem was fired as secretary of homeland security, after being criticized for, among other things, controversial raids on undocumented immigrants.
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