David B. Wheeler rejects Boebert's video response and says the complaint is being amended
David B. WheelerComplainant and president of American Muckrakers, in a reply posted on the organization's X account
Responding directly to Boebert's video statement, David B. Wheeler rejected her characterization of the complaint as a smear, said she attacks the accuser, process and media instead of responding to the allegations, and reiterated that the complaint was properly filed and accepted by the committee. He also said American Muckrakers is amending the complaint and is in talks with House members to sign a Rule 15 complaint, and cited a defamation-suit ruling in his favor against Boebert.
“The patronizing hypocrisy of you, Lauren Beetlejuice Boebert, posting a video lecturing me, the press, or anyone else on the propriety of what's fair, who is truthful, and what the law allows, is quintessential Boebert swamp spin. You attack the accuser, not the facts. You attack the process, not the facts. You attack the media, not the story. But, you never respond to the allegations or ever admit any fault.”
Original post
Other statements by David B. Wheeler in this case
- David B. Wheeler says his Boebert complaint is built on House disbursement records, FEC filings, text messages and named sources who gave written statementsLater: Condemned
- David B. Wheeler says he committed no crime and calls Boebert's perjury accusation a threat dressed up as a press releaseLater: Condemned
- Wheeler asks for inquiry into the basis of Higgs's payLater: Mixed or conditional
Where this statement fits
Did Lauren Boebert have prohibited relationships with staff or misuse official or campaign funds?
David B. Wheeler publicly released a complaint dated September 17, 2026 alleging that Rep. Lauren Boebert had prohibited relationships with supervised employees and misused official or campaign funds. Former district director Clarice Navarro Ratzlaff denied the allegations involving her. Boebert denied inappropriate or sexual relationships with staff, and an unnamed representative rejected the complaint's allegations more broadly. The House Ethics Committee has not publicly confirmed accepting or investigating the submission, which falls within its 60-day preelection complaint window.
Source and context
Original post
About this source
David B. Wheeler's American Muckrakers X account replied directly to Boebert's September 20 video statement (quote-posted). The reply rebuts her characterization of the complaint, cites a defamation-suit ruling in his favor, defends the complaint's timing, and says the complaint is being amended and that Members are being asked to sign a Rule 15 complaint. It also lists several older, unrelated allegations against Boebert not corroborated here and outside this case's scope.
Before the quotation
The reply directly quote-posted Boebert's September 20 video, in which she called coverage of the complaint a smear and criticized Wheeler.
After the quotation
The post also listed several older, unrelated allegations against Boebert not connected to this complaint's core allegations; those are not treated as established facts here and are outside this case's scope.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case concerns alleged prohibited staff relationships and misuse of official or campaign funds. Wheeler rejects Boebert's denial and characterization of the complaint, maintains the allegations, and defends the complaint's filing and timing, so the statement condemns the conduct under scrutiny rather than merely disputing a label. His procedural and evidentiary claims remain his own assertions.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Lauren Boebert
More from this case
Read the full caseJace Ratzlaff says he was not a source for the Boebert ethics complaint and that he took a polygraph test
“I voluntarily submitted to a polygraph examination because I wanted there to be no ambiguity about my lack of involvement”Read statement
Boebert's office says there is no truth to the allegations and that Wheeler likely committed perjury
“I reject these baseless allegations as utterly false and there is no truth to them whatsoever. I have never had a sexual relationship or an inappropriate romantic relationship with any member of my staff—past or present. ... David Wheeler also likely committed perjury and broke a federal law when he certified under penalty of perjury that his lies were the truth and acknowledged that "knowingly making false statements to the Committee may violate federal law, including 18 U.S.C. § 1001."”Read statement
Lauren Boebert calls coverage of the ethics complaint a smear
“You all ran a smear and called it news.”Read statement
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- David B. Wheeler rejects Boebert's video response and says the complaint is being amended
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The Dispute Index. "David B. Wheeler rejects Boebert's video response and says the complaint is being amended". First published: 2026-09-21. Last updated: 2026-09-21. https://disputeindex.com/events/1364-responding-directly-to-boebert-s-video-statement-david