Ethics Complaint Accuses Rep. Lauren Boebert of Improper Relationships and $200,000 Payment
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An oath-signed complaint filed with the House Ethics Committee alleges that Rep. Lauren Boebert had sexual relationships with three staff members and arranged a $200,000 payment to one after she threatened to file a complaint.
An ethics complaint submitted to the House Ethics Committee on September 17 alleges that Rep. Lauren Boebert engaged in sexual relationships with three members of her congressional staff—former district director Clarice Navarro Ratzlaff, district chief of staff Raven Finegan, and former chief of staff Jeffrey Small. The filing cites a 2018 House rule that bars such relationships between members and staff, a rule previously invoked in investigations of other members.
The complaint details meetings in Ratzlaff’s office, a campaign-funded vehicle and hotel rooms, and references more than $449,000 in salary payments and a $200,000 lump-sum payment made in March 2025 after Ratzlaff left her position. According to the Colorado Times Recorder, the complaint claims Boebert arranged the payment to deter Ratzlaff from filing her own ethics complaint. Boebert’s office has not responded to requests for comment.
Ratzlaff denied the allegations, calling them “entirely false and defamatory.” The House Ethics Committee has not announced any investigation. The complaint relies on notes from unnamed sources, and the outlet reporting the filing noted that payroll and campaign-finance figures have not been independently verified.
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, a political ally of Boebert, posted a sarcastic response on social media, demanding any video evidence of an alleged threesome be released. Gaetz’s comment was highlighted by NPR, which noted that he previously faced an ethics probe over unrelated sexual-misconduct allegations.
The filing comes amid broader scrutiny of congressional conduct, including recent resignations of members Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales following separate misconduct investigations.