Rep. Lauren Boebert rejects ethics complaint alleging sexual relationships with staff

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, who represents Colorado’s 4th district, issued a statement denying a House ethics complaint that accuses her of having sexual relationships with three staff members and of 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 payments of $200,000 after the relationship ended.

Wheeler’s filing cites text messages, bank records, court documents and recorded conversations as evidence, and lists payments of 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 prohibits sexual relationships between members and employees they supervise unless the couple is married.

"These allegations regarding me are entirely false, defamatory, and beyond ridiculous," Ratzlaff told the Colorado Reporter in a text message.

Boebert’s office described the filing as a “political smear” and questioned whether it met the ethics committee’s procedural requirements. A spokesperson said, "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 the outlet Sources Say News that she is not lesbian or bisexual and has never been in an inappropriate relationship with any staff member. The allegations follow previous controversies involving Boebert, including a 2023 incident in which she apologized for conduct that fell short of her stated values and a 2024 dispute 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.