Lauren Boebert Denies Ethics Filing Alleging Sex With Three Staffers

Rep. Lauren Boebert is denying allegations in a sworn filing submitted to the House Committee on Ethics that she had sexual relationships with three congressional staffers and arranged an approximately $200,000 payment to a former aide after she threatened to file her own ethics complaint. The Colorado Republican called the accusations “utterly false” and said she has never had a sexual or inappropriate romantic relationship with any current or former staff member.

House rules expressly prohibit members of Congress from having sexual relationships with employees under their supervision, except when the two are married. The prohibition applies even to consensual relationships, making the employment relationship itself central to whether the alleged conduct would violate House ethics rules.

David Wheeler, president of American Muckrakers, submitted the filing on September 17 under oath. It alleges Boebert had relationships with three current or former employees while they worked under her supervision, with much of the filing focused on former district director Clarice Navarro Ratzlaff, who worked in Boebert’s congressional office from 2021 until early 2025.

Much of Wheeler’s account goes beyond the alleged relationship. His filing claims Navarro Ratzlaff received taxpayer-funded bonuses and a $5,000 campaign payment connected to the purported relationship, then received approximately $200,000 in March 2025 after leaving Boebert’s office. Wheeler alleges the larger payment was arranged after she threatened to bring an ethics complaint against the congresswoman. Public reporting has yet to independently establish the source or purpose of that payment.

Navarro Ratzlaff has strongly rejected the allegations involving her, calling them false and defamatory. Boebert has also denied the relationships and financial misconduct claims, accusing Wheeler of trying to generate damaging headlines shortly before voters decide whether to return her to Congress.

Boebert’s office is also challenging whether Wheeler’s submission can proceed as a formal ethics complaint. Committee rules require a complaint from someone outside the House to carry written certification from a House member stating that the information was submitted in good faith and warrants review. Boebert’s office says no member provided that certification.

Timing creates another hurdle. Ethics Committee rules require the panel to return complaints submitted within 60 days of an election in which the member is a candidate. Boebert is seeking reelection in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District on November 3, placing the September 17 submission inside that window.

Wheeler’s previous accusations against Boebert add another layer to the dispute. American Muckrakers published allegations about her in 2022 that included multiple false statements and an image of another woman. Wheeler later acknowledged that his group had been “sloppy” and made errors while continuing to defend what he described as the central allegations.

A defective formal complaint would not necessarily prevent the Ethics Committee from examining the information. Committee Rule 18 permits the panel to consider information already in its possession and begin an inquiry on its own initiative, while its chair and ranking member may jointly gather additional information about alleged misconduct.

As of September 21, the committee has not publicly announced an investigation into the allegations against Boebert. Ethics proceedings are generally confidential at their early stages, meaning the absence of a public announcement does not establish whether committee officials are reviewing information connected to the filing.