The Department of Labor placed Chief of Staff Jihun Han and Deputy Rebecca Wright on administrative leave as the agency’s inspector general reviews a complaint alleging they arranged official events to enable Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s personal travel. The complaint — first reported by the New York Post — also includes other allegations about the secretary’s conduct that both the White House and DOL deny. POLITICO has not independently reviewed the document, and the DOL OIG says it can neither confirm nor deny an investigation beyond public disclosures.
Labor Secretary’s Top Aides Placed on Leave as Inspector General Probes Travel Allegations
Two senior aides to Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer were placed on administrative leave on Monday as the Department of Labor’s internal watchdog investigates a complaint about their conduct, two department officials said.
The complaint, first reported by the New York Post, alleges that Chief of Staff Jihun Han and Deputy Chief of Staff Rebecca Wright arranged official events to facilitate the secretary’s personal travel. Both aides previously worked for Chavez-DeRemer during her time in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Since taking office last March, Chavez-DeRemer has traveled to at least 36 states for dozens of events and had sought to visit all 50 states in her first year — plans she says were disrupted by the record-breaking government shutdown.
Han did not respond to a request for comment, and Wright could not immediately be reached. The Department of Labor declined to comment on personnel matters.
It is unclear who will oversee Chavez-DeRemer’s office while the aides are on leave or whether they remain on the payroll during the investigation. Officials emphasized that the temporary administrative leave is not proof of misconduct.
The New York Post also reported that the complaint included more serious allegations about Chavez-DeRemer’s conduct, including an alleged affair with a staff member and drinking on the job, and claimed the two aides were aware of those actions. The White House and the Department of Labor have denied the accusations, and the labor secretary is reportedly considering legal action against the complaint’s author.
POLITICO said it has not independently reviewed the complaint, and the Office of the Inspector General stated it can neither "confirm nor deny" the existence of an investigation beyond what it has publicly disclosed on its website.
"DOL OIG remains committed to rooting out fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption through objective, independent oversight of the U.S. Department of Labor," an OIG spokesperson said.
The story spread quickly through GOP and labor circles over the weekend. Some Republicans who interact with Chavez-DeRemer and her team expressed skepticism about the more sensational allegations, noting her relatively clean political record before joining President Donald Trump’s Cabinet.
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