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The Department of Labor has reportedly banned Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s husband from entering its headquarters after two female employees accused him of sexual assault, according to a report published Thursday by The New York Times.
The accusations involve Dr. Shawn DeRemer, who is alleged to have inappropriately touched two women inside the Labor Department building. Sources familiar with the matter told the Times that one of the alleged incidents was captured on security footage dated Dec. 18. The video reportedly shows DeRemer giving a woman what was described as an unusually long embrace. That footage has since been reviewed as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
The Times also reported that the Metropolitan Police Department filed a report last month regarding an incident of forced sexual contact inside the Labor Department headquarters. The case is now being handled by the police department’s sexual assault unit.
Following the allegations, officials issued a formal restriction barring DeRemer from the building. A building notice reviewed by the Times reportedly instructed security staff that if he attempted to enter, he should be told to leave immediately.
The Department of Labor has not publicly commented on the ban, though The Hill reported it reached out to the agency for a response.
The accusations against DeRemer surfaced amid a broader swirl of controversy within the Labor Department. According to the Times, the allegations were raised during an Office of Inspector General investigation that is also examining potential misconduct involving Secretary Chavez-DeRemer and two senior staff members.
Those two staffers — Chief of Staff Jihun Han and Deputy Chief of Staff Rebecca Wright — were reportedly placed on leave as part of an inquiry into allegations that taxpayer funds were used for personal travel involving family and friends. Separate reports from the New York Post and Politico also claimed Chavez-DeRemer has faced accusations of having an affair with a subordinate and drinking on the job.
Dr. DeRemer has denied those separate claims about his wife. In a statement quoted by the New York Post, he called the allegations against Secretary Chavez-DeRemer completely untrue and suggested anyone familiar with her character would reject them.
U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, right, is embraced by Vice President J.D. Vance. / Imagn
The Department of Labor and the White House have also pushed back strongly against the allegations involving Chavez-DeRemer. A Labor Department spokesperson reportedly described the claims as unsubstantiated and “categorically false.”
Still, the accusations involving DeRemer appear to have triggered a more immediate response, given the reported building ban and the involvement of law enforcement. The Times report indicates that the criminal investigation remains active, with authorities reviewing security footage and pursuing the claims made by the two employees.
The developments have added to growing scrutiny surrounding Chavez-DeRemer’s leadership and the internal workplace environment at the Labor Department. With multiple investigations reportedly underway — including one tied to alleged financial misuse and another involving serious criminal allegations — the department faces increasing pressure to address both accountability and workplace safety concerns.
As of now, no charges have been publicly announced against Dr. DeRemer, and officials have not released additional details about the employees’ allegations. The investigation continues.
