Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado’s fourth congressional district has rejected accusations contained in a House ethics complaint filed on 17 September by independent journalist David Wheeler. According to the complaint, Boebert violated at least seven House ethics rules through alleged sexual relationships with staff members under her supervision. Boebert’s office issued a statement characterizing the allegations as “utterly false,” while the congresswoman herself posted a video on social media describing the complaint as part of a “politically motivated” campaign against her.
The complaint alleges that Boebert conducted a four-year romantic and sexual relationship with senior staffer Clarice Navarro Ratzlaff, and subsequently paid her $200,000 when the relationship ended and Ratzlaff threatened to file her own ethics complaint. The filing also names Raven Finegan, Boebert’s district chief of staff, and Jeffrey Small, her former chief of staff, as individuals with whom Boebert allegedly had sexual relationships. Wheeler’s organization stated it possessed text messages, bank records, court documents, and recorded conversations supporting these claims. Financial records cited in the complaint show substantial payments to the individuals named, including over $450,000 to Finegan through June 2026 and nearly $780,000 to Small.
House rules prohibit members from engaging in sexual relationships with employees under their direct supervision, with consent deemed irrelevant under the code of official conduct. Ratzlaff, a former Republican state representative, denied the allegations in a text message to the Colorado Reporter, stating the claims contained “absolutely no truth.” A spokesperson for Boebert challenged whether the complaint met procedural requirements for ethics filings, suggesting it constituted “a political smear packaged as an ethics filing.” Boebert told news outlet Sources Say News that she is “not a lesbian or bisexual” and has never engaged in inappropriate relationships with staff members.
This complaint arrives amid previous incidents involving Boebert, including a September 2023 incident at a Denver theater for which she apologized, and a January 2024 police call regarding a disturbance with her ex-husband. Boebert filed for divorce in May 2023. The complaint also noted Boebert’s public comments criticizing LGBTQ+ issues, contrasting with the nature of the allegations against her.
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