Labor Department Bars Husband of Secretary Over Sexual Assault Claims

Allegations against Shawn DeRemer emerge as part of broader investigation into Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The Labor Department has barred the husband of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Dr. Shawn DeRemer, from its Washington headquarters after two female staff members accused him of sexual assault in the agency's main building. The allegations emerged as part of a broader inquiry by the department's inspector general into Chavez-DeRemer and her senior staff.

Why it matters

The allegations against DeRemer and the broader investigation into Chavez-DeRemer's conduct raise serious concerns about misconduct and abuse of power within the highest levels of the Labor Department, potentially undermining public trust in the agency.

The details

According to a police report reviewed by the New York Times, the two women said that DeRemer, an anesthesiologist, inappropriately touched them at the Labor Department's Constitution Avenue headquarters. After investigators interviewed the women, DeRemer was formally restricted from the Frances Perkins Building. The allegations are part of a broader inquiry examining claims that Chavez-DeRemer engaged in an improper sexual relationship with a member of her security detail, misused her office by taking staff to strip clubs, consuming alcohol while on duty, and using government resources for personal travel.

  • In December, Washington's Metropolitan Police Department recorded a report of "forced sexual contact" at the Labor Department.
  • The allegations against DeRemer emerged in January as part of the broader inquiry by the department's inspector general.

The players

Lori Chavez-DeRemer

The Labor Secretary whose husband, Shawn DeRemer, has been accused of sexual assault by two female staff members.

Shawn DeRemer

The husband of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who has been barred from the Labor Department's headquarters after being accused of sexual assault by two female staff members.

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What’s next

The criminal investigation into the allegations against Shawn DeRemer is ongoing, and the broader inquiry into Chavez-DeRemer's conduct is also continuing.

The takeaway

The allegations against DeRemer and the broader investigation into Chavez-DeRemer's conduct raise serious concerns about misconduct and abuse of power within the Labor Department, potentially undermining public trust in the agency and the government's ability to effectively address workplace issues.