Rep. Lauren Boebert Dismisses Ethics Complaint Amidst Serious Allegations of Staff Misconduct
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Congresswoman Lauren Boebert has denied explosive allegations of sexual affairs with three staff members and hush money payments, calling them politically motivated. The independent complaint, however, details multiple violations of House ethics rules and highlights the persistent culture of impunity among right-wing politicians.
Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, representing Colorado’s 4th district and known for her far-right stances, has issued a statement denying a House ethics complaint that accuses her of engaging in sexual relationships with three staff members and paying large sums to silence them. The complaint, filed on September 17 by independent journalist David Wheeler, alleges at least seven violations of House ethics rules, including a four-year romantic relationship with senior staffer Clarice Navarro Ratzlaff and $200,000 in payments after the relationship ended.
Wheeler’s filing is supported by text messages, bank records, court documents, and recorded conversations, exposing a pattern of financial transactions: more than $450,000 to district chief of staff Raven Finegan, nearly $780,000 to former chief of staff Jeffrey Small, and over $460,000 to Ratzlaff. The House code of official conduct explicitly prohibits sexual relationships between members and employees they supervise unless married, yet these alleged violations reflect a broader disregard for ethical standards among conservative lawmakers.
"These allegations regarding me are entirely false, defamatory, and beyond ridiculous," Ratzlaff told the Colorado Reporter in a text message.
Boebert’s office, rather than addressing the substance of the complaint, dismissed it as a “political smear” and questioned its procedural validity. A spokesperson attempted to deflect accountability, stating, "Swearing to it does not make it a complaint. This was a political smear packaged as an ethics filing and published before anyone checked whether it even qualifies under the ethics committee’s rules."
Boebert also told Sources Say News that she is not lesbian or bisexual and has never been in an inappropriate relationship with any staff member, resorting to identity politics to distract from the real issue of abuse of power. These allegations come after previous controversies involving Boebert, including a 2023 incident where she apologized for behavior that contradicted her public values and a 2024 clash with a reporter over personal questions.
The ethics complaint has not yet been certified by a House member as filed in good faith, and the investigation remains pending, raising questions about whether powerful politicians will once again evade accountability.