Labor Dept. Investigates Texts to young women staffers.. '"pay attention" to the men', labor sec's creepy husband [View all]

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/15/us/politics/labor-secretary-text-messages.html



Labor Dept. Investigates Texts Among Secretary’s Family and Staff
Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer asked staff members to bring wine to her hotel room, and to keep in touch with her husband and father.


Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and her top aides and family members routinely sent personal messages and requests to young staff members that are now under review by the department’s inspector general.

Ms. Chavez-DeRemer and her former deputy chief of staff sent texts asking employees to bring wine to them during trips for the department. Sometimes the requests came in the middle of the workday.

Ms. Chavez-DeRemer’s husband exchanged text messages with young female staff members, as did her father. Some of the young women were instructed by Ms. Chavez-DeRemer and the former deputy chief of staff to “pay attention” to the men, according to people familiar with the investigation.

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In an April 2025 exchange provided to investigators, Ms. Chavez-DeRemer’s father, Richard Chavez, wrote to a young female staff member: “Hearing u/r in town. Wishing you would let me know. I could have made some excuses to get out and show u around. Please keep this private.”

The staff member responded: “Will do, no need to worry!” She apologized for not reaching out, and said she would be back in Oregon soon. Ms. Chavez-DeRemer’s family is based in Oregon, and she served one term in the House for the state’s Fifth Congressional District.

“When are u leaving an where u staying,” he responded.