Dr. Shawn DeRemer, husband of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, has been barred from the Department of Labor’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., following allegations of inappropriate touching made by at least two female staff members, according to multiple reports.
The allegations, which surfaced during an internal investigation by the department’s inspector general in January, center on incidents occurring within the Labor Department building on Constitution Avenue. One incident, captured on office security cameras on the morning of December 18, allegedly showed Dr. DeRemer giving one of the women an extended embrace, and is now part of a criminal investigation, sources confirmed.
The Washington Metropolitan Police Department filed a report on January 24 concerning forced sexual contact at the Labor Department, and the sexual assault unit is actively investigating the case. Details of the allegations were first reported by DNyuz.com and the New York Times on Thursday.
The Labor Secretary’s office has not commented on the specifics of the allegations. A lawyer representing Secretary Chavez-DeRemer in the inspector general investigation also declined to comment. Dr. DeRemer has not responded to requests for comment, according to reports.
Secretary Chavez-DeRemer and Dr. DeRemer have been married for more than three decades and have twin daughters together.
The Department of Labor has not announced any interim changes in leadership or policy as a result of the allegations. The outcome of the criminal investigation remains pending.
