In a stunning move, D.C police swept the Trump administration’s Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s offices unexpectedly two weeks ago, conducting a search as part of an investigation into sexual assault allegations against her husband, Dr. Shawn DeRemer.
Three Department of Labor officials confirmed to Politico that employees working in the secretary’s suite were ordered out while Metropolitan Police Department officers searched the office.
Neither Chavez-DeRemer nor Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling was present at the time. A DOL spokesperson declined to comment.
“LCD knew MPD was here but not why,” one official told Politico, referring to the secretary by her initials.
At least two female DOL staffers have accused Dr. DeRemer of inappropriate sexual conduct. At least one alleged incident was captured on office security camera footage that reportedly show Dr. DeRemer giving a prolonged hug to one of the women last December, according to the New York Post.
Dr. DeRemer, an anesthesiologist in Oregon, denied the accusations in a statement to the Wall Street Journal.
“I have not done any of this and I categorically deny these things. I will absolutely categorically fight everything in this,” he said.
Federal authorities reviewed the footage but declined to act. A spokesperson for D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said “based upon the evidence presented to this office in relation to the video, there is no indication of a crime.”
On Sunday, the D.C. metro police also announced it had closed its investigation.
“Based on that finding, MPD’s investigation into this matter has concluded,” the department said in a statement.
Despite the closed criminal probes, Dr. DeRemer has been permanently barred from the Department of Labor building.
The allegations are part of a broader Office of Inspector General investigation into Chavez-DeRemer and her senior aides over an alleged “hostile” work environment. Chavez-DeRemer’s chief of staff and deputy chief of staff, along with several members of her security staff, have been placed on administrative leave.
The DeRemers’ attorney denied all the accusations.
“The allegations are a complete fabrication manufactured by Labor Department insiders vying for the Secretary of Labor’s position,” attorney Bell said in a statement.
The search of a sitting Cabinet member’s office by a local police force is highly unusual. It is rare for the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department to seek access to federal property, and rarer still to search the offices of a Cabinet official.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Chavez-DeRemer has President Donald Trump’s full support. The OIG investigation into the secretary herself continues.