Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert says House Ethics Committee complaint alleging she was intimate with members of her staff is ‘a politically motivated stunt’
Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert has rejected allegations in a House Ethics Committee complaint that she engaged in physically intimate relationships with members of her congressional staff, calling the filing a stunt.
In a statement emailed to Newsweek, a spokesperson for Boebert’s office said, “Congresswoman Lauren Boebert rejects these allegations as utterly false and there is no truth to them whatsoever. This is nothing more than a politically motivated stunt designed to manipulate the ethics process, create headlines, smear her and generate clickbait. They come from an activist who has long recycled sensational claims, including numerous baseless accusations previously fact-checked as false.”
The complaint
The complaint, reviewed by Newsweek, was filed by David Wheeler with the House Committee on Ethics and signed under penalty of perjury. Wheeler is a journalist and political activist who serves as president and co-founder of American Muckrakers, a Democratic super PAC.
The filing alleges that Boebert had physically intimate relationships with three current and former staff members and paid $200,000 in hush money to one of them. Its “statement of facts” section says the allegations are based on “publicly available official records,” including disbursement records, state court documents and published news reports.
House rules adopted in 2018 prohibit members of Congress from engaging in romantic relationships with employees they directly supervise.
Lauren Boebert’s response
In addition to her office’s statement to Newsweek, Boebert addressed the allegations in comments to political blog Sources Say News. She denied engaging in inappropriate conduct with staff.
Asked about additional claims that she had intimate relationships with former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz and another individual, Boebert told the outlet, “Creative, I’ll give him that!”
Gaetz, a political ally of Boebert’s, responded on X by asking anyone with footage of the alleged encounter to come forward with an unedited recording.
David Wheeler defends the filing
In a statement emailed to Newsweek, Wheeler defended his complaint and disputed Boebert’s characterization of it. He accused her of following a familiar denial strategy and described the allegations as part of what he called a broader pattern involving Boebert and her family.
Wheeler also pointed to a defamation lawsuit he filed against Boebert in Colorado federal court. He told Newsweek that a judge found she had defamed him on five occasions and that his claims concerning interference with the group’s donors had merit.
He argued that the Ethics Committee’s subpoena power could help test the allegations against bank statements, text messages, emails, recordings and sworn witness testimony.
Responding to Boebert’s denial in the comments section of the Sources Say News article, Wheeler said his organization had identified sources in the complaint whose names were withheld publicly over concerns about political backlash. He said their identities had been provided to the Ethics Committee.
Background on Lauren Boebert and David Wheeler
Wheeler has reported on Boebert for several years through American Muckrakers. In 2022, he sued her in Colorado, alleging that she made false statements about him and his organization during her reelection campaign.
The lawsuit was settled in 2024. A year earlier, a judge in Garfield County, Colo., dismissed a separate complaint Boebert had filed seeking a permanent protection order against Wheeler.
Political and personal context
Boebert, a Republican representing Colorado in the House, has faced scrutiny from members of her own party this year.
She was one of five House Republicans who joined Democrats in voting to subpoena former Attorney General Pam Bondi over the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Boebert also campaigned for the reelection of fellow Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky.
Boebert filed for divorce from her husband, Jayson Boebert, in 2023, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized that year. They have four children.
Her family has also faced separate legal scrutiny. Her son was arrested on five felony counts, including exploitation of a child to induce or entice, exploitation of a child involving video and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
At the time, Boebert told Newsweek, “We take these allegations very seriously and pray for everyone affected during this challenging time.”
Newsweek reported that it contacted the House Committee on Ethics outside regular business hours for comment on the complaint.
What happens next
Filing a complaint with the House Committee on Ethics does not automatically trigger an investigation or establish wrongdoing. The committee must first determine whether a complaint meets its procedural requirements before deciding whether to take further action.
Wheeler’s filing specifically asks the committee to establish an investigative subcommittee to examine the allegations. No timeline has been set for that decision.