Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Colorado Republican, is facing a sworn complaint filed with the House Committee on Ethics that alleges she engaged in sexual relationships with three current or former staff members under her supervision, according to a copy of the complaint made public this week.
The complaint, submitted Sept. 17 by David Wheeler, founder of the political advocacy group American Muckrakers, names former district director Clarice Navarro Ratzlaff, district chief of staff Raven Finegan, and former chief of staff Jeffrey Small. It alleges the relationships occurred both during and outside office hours, in multiple locations including Boebert’s district office, a vehicle, and hotel rooms paid for by her campaign.
House rules prohibit members of Congress from having sexual relationships with employees who report directly to them.
The complaint further alleges that a payment of approximately $200,000 was made to one of the staffers in March 2025, after she indicated an intention to file her own ethics complaint. The document does not identify the source of the funds, and a section describing how the payment was verified has been redacted in the publicly released version.
Boebert has strongly denied the allegations. In comments to a Capitol Hill reporter, she said she had “never, ever been in any inappropriate relationship” and had “never been sexually involved with any staff.” A spokesperson for the congresswoman characterized the complaint as a “politically motivated stunt” intended to generate negative headlines ahead of any formal review.
One of the staffers named in the complaint has also disputed the allegations publicly.
The claims have not been independently verified, and the House Ethics Committee has not indicated whether it will open a formal investigation. Wheeler has previously made public allegations against Boebert that she has likewise denied.
Boebert, a vocal ally of President Donald Trump, has represented Colorado’s 4th Congressional District since January 2025, having previously served the state’s 3rd District.
