House Ethics Complaint Accuses Rep. Lauren Boebert of Improper Staff Relationships and $200,000 Payment
A sworn ethics complaint alleges that Rep. Lauren Boebert engaged in sexual relationships with three staff members and paid one $200,000 to silence the matter, which Boebert and the staffer deny.
A sworn House Ethics complaint filed on Sept. 17 alleges that Rep. Lauren Boebert had inappropriate sexual relationships with three of her staffers and paid one of them $200,000 to keep the matter confidential. The complaint, submitted by activist David B. Wheeler, identifies district director Clarice Navarro, former chief of staff Jeffrey Small and current district chief of staff Raven Finegan as the individuals involved. It claims the alleged relationship with Navarro began in 2021 and continued until she left the office in January 2025, with encounters reportedly occurring in the district office, a vehicle and hotel rooms funded by Boebert’s campaign. The filing says Boebert paid Navarro $200,000 in March 2025 after Navarro allegedly threatened to file an ethics complaint.
Boebert’s office rejected the allegations, calling them “utterly false” and “politically motivated.” A spokesperson said the claims are a “stunt designed to manipulate the ethics process, create headlines, smear her, and generate clickbait.” Boebert herself told reporter Juliegrace Brufke that she is not lesbian or bisexual and has never had an inappropriate relationship with any staff member.
Navarro also denied the accusations, describing them as “entirely false, defamatory, and beyond ridiculous” in a statement to a Colorado newspaper. The complaint cites unnamed sources, text messages, bank records, payroll data and Federal Election Commission filings as evidence, though none of the material has been independently verified.
Under House rules adopted during the #MeToo era, members are prohibited from having sexual relationships with employees they supervise unless married. The complaint notes that Boebert’s alleged conduct would violate those rules.
Wheeler, who has previously published unverified claims about Boebert, admitted past reporting errors, including using an incorrect photograph in a 2022 escort allegation. Boebert has previously advocated for transparency regarding hush payments to staff and has faced other personal and political controversies.