Rep. Lauren Boebert Denies 'Politically Motivated' Ethics Complaint Alleging Sex With Staffers, Hush Money
A House Ethics Committee complaint accuses the Colorado congresswoman of sexual relationships with staffers and paying hush money, claims her office calls 'utterly false.'
Colorado Congresswoman Lauren Boebert has vehemently denied allegations detailed in a House Ethics Committee complaint that she engaged in sexual relationships with staffers and paid hush money to one employee. A spokesperson for Boebert stated that the claims are "utterly false" and represent a "politically motivated stunt designed to manipulate the ethics process, create headlines, smear her, and generate clickbait."
The complaint, filed by journalist David Wheeler, alleges that Boebert had sexual relations with three current and former staff members and paid $200,000 in hush money to one staffer to prevent a complaint. Wheeler's website features a graphic reading "Fire Boebert" and has published a coloring book with Boebert's image on the cover. Wheeler asserted that Boebert has "a problem telling the truth and taking responsibility for her actions" and that he stands by his story and sources.
Boebert's office suggested that the complaint follows a pattern of false accusations from Wheeler, characterizing him as an "activist who has long recycled sensational claims, including numerous baseless accusations previously fact-checked as false."
The congresswoman has recently been at odds with former President Donald Trump, particularly over her push to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump had previously expressed openness to supporting a challenger against Boebert and had publicly criticized her for campaigning with Republican Thomas Massie, whom Trump considers an antagonist. Boebert, in turn, stated she was not offended by Trump's remarks and understood the risks of supporting Massie.
Sources indicate that tensions between Trump and Boebert stem from an incident where she was reportedly pressured in the Situation Room to withdraw her name from a petition forcing a House vote on the Epstein files, a pressure campaign she resisted. In what appeared to be retaliation, Trump vetoed the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act, a water pipeline project for southeastern Colorado, which Massie highlighted as a punishment for Boebert's constituents.
Boebert has been a prominent voice in the House calling for accountability for lawmakers accused of sexual misconduct, regardless of party affiliation. She has publicly questioned lawmakers' behavior and voted to censure Republican Congressman Chuck Edwards after he was found to have engaged in "persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct" with young female staffers. Boebert also called for former lawmakers Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales, who resigned following allegations of sexual misconduct, to be stripped of their pensions.
In March, Boebert criticized Republicans for blocking a measure that would have made records of congressional sexual misconduct probes public. She also faced scrutiny for taking and leaking a photograph of Hillary Clinton during a closed-door deposition related to the Epstein files, an action that caused Clinton's lawyers to request a halt to the proceedings. Such photography is prohibited in congressional testimony sessions.
Boebert is currently running for reelection in a new congressional district after winning a primary race. This move followed a scandal involving a video of her at a Denver theater and accusations of "carpetbagging." Her victory in the new district highlights her strong standing within the Republican party. She has pledged to continue her advocacy for policies such as border security and to maintain her assertive political style, which she describes as requiring "force."
Earlier in her career, Boebert gained national conservative recognition. Her tenure has also seen personal controversies, including an incident where she was involved in a disturbance at a musical production of 'Beetlejuice' and her 21-year-old son, Tyler Boebert, pleaded guilty to child abuse and negligence charges related to leaving his infant son unattended.