Labor Department watchdog investigating personal texts secretary's husband, father sent staffers

The Labor Department Inspector General is reportedly investigating text messages from Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, her husband, and her father to young staffers at the agency with personal requests. 

This is a new angle in the ongoing probe the department watchdog is conducting into Chavez-DeRemer's leadership of the agency sparked by a complaint alleging widespread misconduct. 

Chavez-DeRemer instructed the young staffers to "pay attention" to the requests by her husband and father, according to The New York Times, which first reported on the messages on Wednesday. 

“Hearing u/r in town. Wishing you would let me know. I could have made some excuses to get out and show u around. Please keep this private,"  Chavez-DeRemer's father, Richard Chavez, wrote to a young, female staff member in one April 2025 exchange.

The staff member responded: “Will do, no need to worry!" She explained that she would be back in Oregon soon, where Mr. Chavez lives. 

“When are u leaving an where u staying,” he replied. Chavez has not been accused of wrongdoing. 

A few weeks after that exchange, the same staffer messaged Chavez-DeRemer's husband, Dr. Shawn DeRemer. “I’ve been having so much fun traveling with LCD and being in the moment for everything!! I promise from now on I’ll check in," she wrote, according to The New York Times. 

“You better. I was feeling forgotten. I figured you were still in church repenting after your exposure to the demon state of Oregon," Dr. DeRemer replied. 

Earlier this year, DeRemer was banned from Labor Department headquarters after at least two female staffers told agency officials that he had sexually assaulted them. The women's concerns are also reportedly part of the inspector general's probe.