Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., has placed a hold on four of President Trump's nominees to federal labor-related positions. The action comes in response to an internal watchdog report detailing the conduct of former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
Cassidy, the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, stated that lawmakers were not briefed on the findings of the investigation, deeming it "unacceptable" and a disregard for Congress's constitutional oversight role. The HELP Committee will not consider additional labor nominees until members and staff receive a full briefing.
Chavez-DeRemer resigned in April, three months after reports emerged of an inspector general probe into her relationship with security guard Brian Sloan and allegations of abuse of position. The watchdog report, released Thursday, detailed an inappropriate relationship with her bodyguard and described a strip club trip during which Chavez-DeRemer allegedly ordered a member of her security detail to give money to partially nude dancers.
The nominees affected by Cassidy's hold are Mike Doyle for the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, Walter Darr for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, and Doug Ralph and Loren Sweatt for the National Mediation Board. These positions are with independent agencies that deal with worker issues, including collective bargaining.
One of the nominees, Keith Sonderling, who is tapped to replace Chavez-DeRemer, has already cleared the Senate HELP Committee and awaits a full Senate vote. A senator can place a hold on a nominee at any time for any reason.
Cassidy is set to leave the Senate in January after losing his bid for a third term in the Republican primary.