What We Know About the Lauren Boebert Ethics Complaint

Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Colorado Republican, is disputing a formal House ethics complaint that accuses her of sexual relationships with three staff members and paying one of them to stay quiet, the Guardian reported. Boebert's office says the allegations are "utterly false" and politically motivated. Here is what the complaint says, who filed it, and how the House ethics process handles claims like this.

What does the ethics complaint allege?

The complaint, filed September 17, accuses Boebert of committing at least seven violations of House ethics rules, according to the Guardian, which said it reviewed the document but has not independently substantiated the allegations. It alleges Boebert had a four-year "romantic and sexual relationship" with a senior staffer, identified as Clarice Navarro Ratzlaff, and paid her $200,000 after the relationship ended and Ratzlaff reportedly threatened to file her own complaint. The document also alleges relationships with two other aides: Raven Finegan, described as Boebert's district chief of staff, and Jeffrey Small, who served as chief of staff from 2021 to 2025.

Who filed the complaint and what evidence does it cite?

The complaint was filed by David Wheeler, an independent journalist and founder of the American Muckrakers political action committee. Wheeler told the Guardian his group has "direct knowledge of the relationships through text messages, bank records, court documents, and recorded conversations." The filing also includes financial figures drawn from congressional spending records: more than $450,000 paid to Finegan through June 2026 and almost $780,000 paid to Small, according to the Guardian's account of the complaint. The Guardian did not verify these underlying documents independently.

What has Boebert's office said in response?

Boebert's office issued a statement saying "the congresswoman rejects the claims as utterly false," per the Guardian. Boebert also posted a video to social media calling Wheeler a "sloppy, desperate, obsessive hack" and accusing reporters covering the complaint of falling for a "scam." Her office has characterized the complaint as part of a politically motivated campaign against her, though it has not addressed the specific payment figures cited in the filing.

What happens next under House ethics rules?

Complaints filed with the House Committee on Ethics typically trigger a preliminary review before the panel decides whether to open a formal investigation, refer the matter to the Office of Congressional Conduct, or dismiss it. The Guardian's report does not indicate that the committee has announced a formal review of this specific complaint, and no committee statement is cited in the available reporting.

What to watch

• Whether the House Committee on Ethics confirms it has received or opened a review of the complaint
• Any public statements from Ratzlaff, Finegan, or Small responding to the allegations
• Additional documents Wheeler or American Muckrakers say support the claims
• Whether Boebert's office releases records to counter the payment figures cited in the filing
• Any response from House Republican leadership on the district's 2026 midterm race