Exclusive | Top aides to under-fire Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resign amid watchdog probe
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s top aides are resigning from the department amid an inspector general’s probe into their alleged mistreatment of staff and misuse of taxpayer dollars for personal travel with the Cabinet official, sources told The Post.
Chief of staff Jihun Han and deputy Rebecca Wright were offered the choice of resigning or being fired by the White House Monday night, roughly two months after department watchdog Anthony D’Esposito launched an investigation into the senior aides.
The complaint filed with D’Esposito’s office — first reported by The Post in January — accused Chavez-DeRemer, 57, of having Han and Wright “make up” official trips, seeking out conferences or speaking engagements at destinations where the secretary could also visit family members or travel for pleasure.
The labor secretary also faced allegations of drinking in her office during the workday, enabling a “hostile” workplace — with Han and Wright belittling and bullying staffers — and pursuing an “inappropriate” relationship with a member of her security detail.
Han, Wright and the security guard were all placed on administrative leave in January, sources noted, and additional complaints have been submitted since then against the secretary’s aides accusing them of interfering with the IG probe and exerting improper influence over junior staff.
The White House has said it stands by the labor secretary amid the investigation, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying President Trump is “aware of the internal investigation” and “thinks that she’s doing a tremendous job at the Department of Labor on behalf of American workers.”
Neither Han nor Wright immediately responded to requests for comment. Reps for DOL, the White House and D’Esposito’s office also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
