A security officer assigned to protect Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer was placed on leave as officials investigate an alleged romantic relationship between them, two people with direct knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg Law.
The officer was placed on administrative leave Jan. 16, days after Chavez-DeRemer’s two top aides were suspended over a probe into the secretary’s travel and conduct at work that allegedly includes at least one inappropriate relationship with a DOL staffer, according to the people, who were not authorized to speak publicly.
The Oregon Republican has sought to position herself as a bridge between the MAGA movement and organized labor—one of the few in her party to openly support unions—and as the face of President Donald Trump’s efforts to help the working class. She spent much of her first year as labor secretary on a tour of all 50 states, including at least seven this January. She visited West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee earlier this week.
Her chief of staff, Jihun Han, and deputy chief of staff, Rebecca Wright, were put on leave after an inspector general complaint alleging they helped facilitate the secretary’s improper work trips to spend time with family and friends became public.
It’s unclear if the bodyguard is named in the complaint.
The DOL has denied the allegations, and the White House has publicly defended Chavez-DeRemer.
“The Department will not comment on internal or personnel matters and cannot confirm or deny the existence of an IG investigation,” DOL spokeswoman Courtney Parella said in a statement. “The Secretary remains focused on carrying out the Department’s mission and supporting American workers.”
In a statement, Nick Oberheiden, Chavez-DeRemer’s personal attorney, denied wrongdoing on her part and declined to comment further.
“Her silence should not be misinterpreted as an approval of any story or allegation—let alone an indication of veracity or accuracy of circulating rumors,” he continued, adding that the leaks “might involve the disclosure of classified information.”
“Mrs. Chavez DeRemer focuses, as President Trump’s trusted Secretary, on her critical mission to improve the lives of American workers,” he said.
The IG complaint alleges she traveled in October to the Red Rocks Casino Resort and Spa in Las Vegas, along with a staffer with whom she was having an inappropriate relationship.
