One of the boys
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is not the best-known member of the Trump cabinet. But she fits in with the administration’s zeitgeist. She has been accused of adultery in the office with a liquor chaser. This is how The New York Post reported it:
WASHINGTON — Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is under an internal investigation following an explosive complaint alleging she’s been “abusing her position” by pursuing an “inappropriate” relationship with a subordinate, according to sources and documents reviewed by The Post.
Chavez-DeRemer, 57, has welcomed her alleged paramour at least three times to her DC apartment and twice into her hotel room while traveling, alleges a complaint filed with the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Inspector General last week, which has since begun a probe.
For the record, Chavez-DeRemer is married. Her Wikipedia page reports:
Chavez-DeRemer is married to Shawn DeRemer, an anesthesiologist. They have two children and live in Happy Valley.[45] Chavez-DeRemer is a Roman Catholic.[46] In March 2021, the DeRemers purchased a home in Fountain Hills, Arizona under a mortgage agreement that required them to occupy the property as a primary residence after refinancing their home in Oregon as a primary residence two months earlier.
The reader will notice that Chavez-DeRemer may well have committed the offense the administration is raking Letitia James over the coals for — mortgage fraud. Not that this administration will take action. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if Trump has a file of kompromat on every member of his administration to encourage right-thinking loyalty.
Anyway, there is no suggestion that the couple is estranged. Although perhaps they have an understanding — an open marriage, if you will. But, I admit, that is cheap speculation.
More relevantly, most American businesses have codes of conduct that frown on sexual fraternization among co-workers. When one worker is in a position of power over another, that adds more ‘no’ to the ‘no-no’. However, it would surprise no one to discover that there is no written or tacit code of professional ethics binding Trump’s gang of sycophants and opportunists.
There’s more. The NYP continues:
The former Oregon congresswoman is also accused of drinking in her office during the workday and committing “travel fraud” by having her chief of staff and deputy chief of staff “make up” official trips to destinations where Chavez-DeRemer can spend time with family or friends on the taxpayers’ dime.
Retro sinning
In a way, it is a breath of fresh air to discover that the sins of a Trump Secretary are of the common or garden kind. To read that Chavez-DeRemer is accused of substance abuse, adultery, and expense padding is almost nostalgic. Even when you consider that Lori may be a bit of a pill. The post adds.
Sources also accused her of being a “boss from hell,” by forcing aides to run personal errands or perform other menial tasks while on the clock.
Chavez-DeRemer, chief of staff Jihun Han, and deputy chief of staff Rebecca Wright — whom the complaint alleges are “involved and have knowledge of these issues” — are all now under investigation by the DOL’s Office of Inspector General, according to sources and documents.
These are good old-fashioned sins indulged in by politicians across the political spectrum since the dawn of the Republic. The cost to the taxpayer is modest. The victims of Chavez-DeRemer’s delinquency are limited. And her behavior is no threat to democracy.
Besides, if you believe the administration, Chavez-DeRemer is an angel more sinned against than sinning. DOL spokesperson Courtney Parella explains:
“These unsubstantiated allegations are categorically false. Secretary Chavez-DeRemer has complied with all ethics rules and Department policies and remains fully engaged in carrying out the Department’s work on behalf of this historic Administration. The Secretary is considering all possible avenues, including legal action, to fight these baseless accusations from anonymous sources.”
In addition, White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers trotted out boilerplate and called the allegations “baseless.”
She too shall pass
Regardless, if Chavez-DeRemer were the worst offender in America’s current administration, the citizens could thank providence for living in a time of relative law-abiding morality. Sadly, she is not the worst offender. When historians write of Trump's presidential crime spree, she will be lucky to rate a footnote.
