Watchdog report: Ex-Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer oversaw hostile work environment, misused funds

NEW YORK (AP) – Former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer oversaw a "toxic, intimidating and humiliating" work environment and engaged in numerous violations of department policy, according to a new report from the department's Office of Inspector General.

What happened

For context, the report alleges that Chavez-DeRemer "engaged in an inappropriate relationship" with a member of her security detail and repeatedly directed staff to perform personal tasks on administration time. It additionally accuses her of inappropriately combining personal and official travel, violating the department's alcohol policies, and failing to report gifts through proper channels.

Based on interviews with dozens of current and former labor department staffers and a review of more than 500 documents, images and videos, the report includes a number of striking allegations.

During a personal trip to Oregon, it reports, Chavez-DeRemer allegedly halted at a strip club featuring partially nude dancers and directed her limousine driver to come inside and provide funds to a performer, despite his hesitation. She then "took additional money from her purse and asked the agent to drop the bills one by one onto the partially nude woman, " despite his protests.

The bottom line

In short, watchdog report: Ex-Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer oversaw hostile work environment, misused funds is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.