Rep. Lauren Boebert Denies Staff Affair Allegations, Cites Heterosexuality

Rep. Lauren Boebert has denied allegations of affairs with three congressional staffers, including two women, stating that she is heterosexual and has never been involved in any inappropriate relationships. Her office has called the claims "utterly false."

An ethics complaint was filed by the political action committee American Muckrakers, led by David Wheeler, who has previously targeted Boebert. The complaint alleges that Boebert had relationships with her former district director Clarice Navarro Ratzlaff, her former chief of staff Jeffrey Small, and her current chief of staff Raven Finegan. Navarro Ratzlaff and Small are no longer employed by Boebert, while Finegan remains.

Wheeler's complaint claims the alleged liaison with Navarro Ratzlaff began in 2021 and continued throughout her tenure, suggesting it occurred in campaign-funded hotel rooms. The complaint further alleges that Navarro Ratzlaff received a $200,000 payout last March to remain silent after threatening to file an ethics complaint. Wheeler stated the complaint is based on House disclosures and anonymous sources.

However, Clarice Navarro Ratzlaff has vehemently denied these accusations. She told the Colorado Times Recorder that the claims are "entirely false, defamatory, and beyond ridiculous. There is absolutely no truth to any part of this claim."

House rules prohibit members of Congress from engaging in sexual relationships with their staffers, a rule that has faced increased scrutiny and calls for broader application in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Boebert previously garnered attention in April for questioning why “everybody is so horny” in Congress amidst a series of scandals. She survived reelection in 2024.