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Lauren Boebert blasts 'politically motivated stunt' after ethics complaint alleges staff affairs and $200,000 hush money

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026 · last updated 21 September 2026.

Lauren Boebert and Clarice Navarro Ratzlaff (far left), who the complaint alleges received around $200,000 in hush money after threatening to report their relationship to the House Ethics Committee.
Lauren Boebert and Clarice Navarro Ratzlaff (far left), who the complaint alleges received around $200,000 in hush money after threatening to report their relationship to the House Ethics Committee.
Raven Finegan, one of three staffers named in the sworn complaint alleging sexual relationships with the Republican congresswoman, including encounters in campaign-funded vehicles and hotel rooms.
Raven Finegan, one of three staffers named in the sworn complaint alleging sexual relationships with the Republican congresswoman, including encounters in campaign-funded vehicles and hotel rooms.
David Wheeler, whose American Muckrakers organisation filed the complaint on September 17, has a self-admitted history of 'sloppy' research 'riddled with inaccuracies' about Boebert.
David Wheeler, whose American Muckrakers organisation filed the complaint on September 17, has a self-admitted history of 'sloppy' research 'riddled with inaccuracies' about Boebert.
Lauren Boebert and Jeffrey Small, her former chief of staff, whom the complaint names as one of three staffers she allegedly had sexual relationships with.
Lauren Boebert and Jeffrey Small, her former chief of staff, whom the complaint names as one of three staffers she allegedly had sexual relationships with.

Lauren Boebert has rejected as "utterly false" a sworn ethics complaint filed with the House Committee on Ethics alleging she had sexual relationships with three current and former staffers and paid $200,000 to silence one of them. The complaint, filed on September 17 by American Muckrakers' David Wheeler — against whom Boebert has held a restraining order since 2022 — names former district director Clarice Navarro Ratzlaff, district chief of staff Raven Finegan and former chief of staff Jeffrey Small. Boebert, 39, also flatly denied the complaint's suggestion she had relationships with two female staffers, saying: "I'm not a lesbian or bisexual, and I have never been sexually involved with any staff." Wheeler insists he stands "100%" by his sourcing.

The $200,000 payment was allegedly arranged in March 2025 to prevent Navarro Ratzlaff from filing her own complaint; Navarro Ratzlaff herself calls the claims "entirely false, defamatory, and beyond ridiculous."

Wheeler, a Democrat Super PAC founder with a history of self-admitted "sloppy" research, runs a website demanding Boebert be fired and has published a colouring book featuring her likeness.

Boebert has clashed with Trump this year after voting to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi over the Epstein files — a move that put her firmly in the President's crosshairs.

MoreDaily Mail NewsLauren Boebert blasts 'politically motivated' ethics complaint that accuses her of having sex with staffers and paying hush moneyjustjared.comLauren Boebert Responds to Claims She Had Affairs With 3 Staffers, Addresses $200,000 Payment Allegation - Just Jaredusmagazine.comRep. Lauren Boebert Responds to Claim She Had Sex With Male and Female Staffers Amid Ethics Complainttmz.comLauren Boebert Rejects Ethics Complaint Accusing Her of Affairs With StaffNewsweekLauren Boebert blasts ethics complaint as 'politically motivated stunt'people.comLauren Boebert Addresses Claims She Had Affairs with 3 Staffers, Paid $200,000 to Keep One from Speaking Out - people.comNY PostRep. Lauren Boebert has simple response to claim she had sex with 3 staffers, including 2 women
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