President Trump’s Labor Secretary, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, arrived at the Melania premiere without her husband after reports that she was having sex with her bodyguard surfaced earlier this month.
Unlike other Trump Cabinet members who brought their spouses to Thursday’s black carpet premiere, Chavez-DeRemer, who is facing an internal investigation over reports that she had an affair with a member of her security detail who is now on leave, posed alone.
The 57-year-old Labor Secretary has been married to Dr. Shawn DeRemer since 1991, and the couple shares twin daughters. The Department of Labor describes him as “her high school sweetheart.”
DeRemer was conspicuously absent at First Lady Melania Trump’s big night Thursday. Chavez-DeRemer—who appeared to still be sporting her wedding ring—was all smiles in a brown dress and clutching a white shoulder bag as she walked the black carpet for Amazon MGM’s $75 million feature-length documentary.
Several other top Trump officials were spotted at the screening with their partners, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. President Trump also walked hand-in-hand down the carpet with Melania.
Since being tapped to lead the Labor Department, Chavez-DeRemer has been mired in controversy amid reports of chaotic working conditions.
Two sources familiar with the affair scandal told Bloomberg Law that the security officer in question was placed on leave on Jan. 16 amid the internal probe into allegations that Chavez-DeRemer was “abusing her position.”
On top of the raunchy allegations of a workplace affair, the Oregon Republican is also accused of keeping a “stash” of champagne, bourbon, and Kahlua on hand in her office and drinking on the job.
She is also alleged to have gone on trips to see friends and family on taxpayer money, and going to a strip club with officials.
The New York Post obtained documents relating to the affair complaint, filed with the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, alleging she hosted a subordinate three times at her apartment in Washington, D.C., and twice at her hotel room while on the road.
She is accused of a jaunt at the Red Rocks Casino Resort and Spa in Las Vegas with her paramour in October, while the Department of Labor was shut down.
In addition to the unnamed staffer, her chief of staff, Jihun Han, and deputy chief of staff, Rebecca Wright, have been placed on leave and are also reportedly under investigation. According to the Post, the complaint alleges they were “involved and have knowledge of these issues.”
In a previous statement made to the Daily Beast, White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers denied the allegations, saying, “The New York Post was unable to provide any evidence to corroborate these baseless claims in this ‘report’ supposedly filed by a FORMER disgruntled employee.”
She added, “Secretary Chavez-DeRemer is an incredible asset to President Trump’s team and she will continue advancing the President’s America First agenda.”
The allegations were previously described as “categorically false” by a spokesperson for the Department of Labor.
Before arriving alone at the premier, Chavez-DeRemer was in the Cabinet Room of the White House, sitting two seats down from embattled Homeland Secretary Krisiti Noem, as Trump’s top table took it in turns to tell him how much they admired him.
The Daily Beast has contacted the Labor Department for comment.
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