Report: Former Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer Oversaw Toxic Work Environment, Misused Funds

Investigators also accuse her of inappropriately combining personal and official travel, violating the department’s alcohol policies, and failing to report gifts through proper channels. The report is based on interviews with dozens of current and former labor department staffers and a review of more than 500 documents, images, and videos.

Among the specific allegations, the report states that during a personal trip to Oregon, Chavez-DeRemer allegedly stopped at a strip club and directed her limousine driver to give money to a performer. She also allegedly sent staffers to her home to retrieve packages, instructed them to make personal purchases, and directed a Hispanic federal employee to communicate with Spanish-speaking workers, including a house cleaner and movers.

The report further details an alleged inappropriate and unprofessional relationship with a senior agent on her security detail, citing witness accounts of them golfing and gambling together, and leaving an event arm-in-arm. Electronic hotel door lock records and key fob records reportedly suggested they were spending time overnight in each other’s rooms.