Federal prosecutors have declined to charge Dr. Shawn DeRemer, husband of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, with crimes related to the alleged sexual assault of two female staffers at the Department of Labor's Washington, D.C. headquarters. The DC US Attorney's Office reviewed video footage from the incidents and found no basis to proceed.

A spokesperson for DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro put it plainly:

"Based upon the evidence presented to this office in relation to the video, there is no indication of a crime."

The Federal Protective Service also declined to pursue the case last month. The Metropolitan Police Department, which opened its own investigation on January 24, confirmed Saturday that its inquiry has concluded as well. Three separate law enforcement reviews. Zero charges.

DeRemer's attorney, James Bell, said his client "categorically, unequivocally, and emphatically denies every one of the allegations."

What the evidence actually showed

The allegations centered on incidents involving two female Department of Labor staffers. At least one occurred last December, when Dr. DeRemer was captured on an office security camera giving what was described as a prolonged hug to one of the women. A separate allegation described a staffer being forced into "sexual contact against her will," which would have constituted a misdemeanor sex abuse charge.

DC police visited the secretary's office during their investigation. Staff were told to exit briefly on February 5 while a Metropolitan Police Department officer entered. Dr. DeRemer was subsequently barred from the building, with a restriction notice stating that if he attempts to enter, "he is to be asked to leave." The New York Post reported.

Those are serious precautions. But precautions are not convictions, and three separate reviews of the available evidence all reached the same conclusion: no charges warranted.

The broader storm at the Department of Labor

The allegations against Dr. DeRemer landed in the middle of an already turbulent period for the Department of Labor. A broader probe by Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito has examined what sources describe as a "hostile" work environment under the secretary. A misconduct complaint filed with the DOL's Office of Inspector General accused Chavez-DeRemer and her top aides of:

• Having aides "make up" official trips for personal reasons
• Drinking in her office during the workday
• Pursuing an "inappropriate" relationship with a member of her security detail
• Bullying and belittling DOL employees through her chief of staff, Jihun Han, and deputy Rebecca Wright

Han, Wright, and the security guard referenced in the complaint were all placed on administrative leave in January. The DOL's Office of Inspector General determined it had a conflict of interest in investigating the matter. A DHS spokesperson confirmed the department informed the OIG that "there is an existing process to be followed regarding OIG conflicts and recommended that DOL OIG follow that process."

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has also launched an inquiry into the secretary's conduct after evidence surfaced regarding a strip club visit.

A deputy's revealing candor

One of the more striking details to emerge from the probe involves Rebecca Wright, the secretary's deputy, who was placed on administrative leave. Sources say Wright was outed during the investigation for having taken a shot at President Trump. In a staff meeting last year, Wright reportedly told employees:

"We don't care how POTUS looks, and we don't care what the White House tells us to do. We only care that the secretary looks good."

That's a remarkable statement from a political appointee in a Republican administration. Cabinet secretaries serve at the pleasure of the president and exist to execute his agenda. When a senior aide openly tells staff that the president's priorities are irrelevant, you don't have a loyal team with a communications problem. You have a fiefdom.

The political reality

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that President Trump is "aware of the internal investigation" and "thinks that she's doing a tremendous job at the Department of Labor on behalf of American workers." Chavez-DeRemer, 57, has continued attending Cabinet and White House events and touring states. She attended a $2,500-per-ticket fundraising dinner on February 11 associated with Rep. Bill Huizenga of Michigan.

The no-charges decision on the sexual assault allegations removes one layer of legal jeopardy from the secretary's orbit. But the workplace misconduct probe, the IG conflict, and the Grassley inquiry remain live wires. The travel fraud accusations, the allegations of drinking on the job, the hostile work environment complaints: none of these vanished because prosecutors found insufficient evidence on a separate matter.

Conservatives should welcome the fact that law enforcement followed the evidence and declined to bring charges it couldn't support. That's how the system is supposed to work. But conservatives should also expect Cabinet officials to run clean shops, staff their departments with people loyal to the president's agenda, and conduct themselves in a manner that doesn't generate multiagency investigations within months of confirmation.

Three agencies looked at the assault allegations and walked away. The questions surrounding the Department of Labor's leadership are not walking anywhere.