WASHINGTON — Shawn DeRemer, the husband of U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, is currently prohibited from entering the Department of Labor headquarters following sexual assault allegations involving at least two female employees.

Why it matters: The allegations against DeRemer, an anesthesiologist, have triggered both internal reviews and a criminal investigation by Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) at a cabinet-level agency.

The details:

• The Incident: A police report filed Jan. 24 details a non-consensual sexual contact occurring Dec. 18 at the department’s Constitution Avenue building, according to documents seen by Reuters.
• The Evidence: Security footage from Dec. 18 reportedly shows DeRemer in an “extended embrace” with one of the women, per the New York Times.
• The Context: These allegations surfaced in January during a broader Office of Inspector General (OIG) probe into alleged misconduct by the Labor Secretary and her senior staff, the Times said.

What they’re saying: A spokesperson for the Labor Department previously labeled broader misconduct allegations as “categorically false” to the New York Post. While the MPD confirmed its sexual assault unit is investigating the Dec. 18 report, it has not officially named DeRemer. The Labor Department and DeRemer did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the specific ban.

Between the lines: The investigation has already caused significant internal friction. According to reports by the New York Post and New York Times, several members of the Secretary’s inner circle have been placed on administrative or investigative leave as the OIG continues its work.