Former Labor Secretary accused of misusing security staff for strip-club tips
A Labor Department inspector-general report says former Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer had an improper relationship with her bodyguard and directed staff to give cash to partially nude dancers during a trip to an Oregon strip club.
The Labor Department’s inspector-general released findings that former Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer maintained an inappropriately close relationship with her bodyguard, Brian Sloan, breaching federal impartiality rules. During an April 2025 visit to an Oregon strip club, she took cash from her purse and ordered a security driver to tip a partially nude dancer, a directive the driver only followed after Sloan’s intervention.
The report also cites four further infractions: combining personal and official travel, drinking alcohol on federal premises without authorization, assigning government staff to personal duties, and failing to report gifts. While the investigation did not substantiate a romantic or sexual link, it affirmed multiple violations of Department of Labor policy. Chavez-DeRemer resigned in April, three months after the probe was first reported.
Why it matters
The case highlights potential abuse of federal resources and raises concerns about ethical standards for senior officials.
How the sides frame it
HIGH AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage highlights an alleged affair and a hostile work environment, while right-leaning coverage downplays any romantic link and stresses the breach of federal impartiality rules.
LEFT
Frames the story as a serious abuse of power involving rule violations, a hostile workplace, and a purported affair funded by taxpayers
RIGHT
Frames the story as a breach of federal impartiality and policy rules, noting the close relationship but emphasizing that no romantic link was proven
The left emphasises
- breached Department of Labor rules
- creating a hostile work environment
- misusing government resources and taxpayer money
The right emphasises
- maintained an inappropriately close relationship with her bodyguard
- breaching federal impartiality rules
- multiple violations of Department of Labor policy
In this story
