We have documented statements by David B. Wheeler on 2026 Midterm Elections, Campaign Finance, and Election Security, among other topics. Read the quotations, original sources and related cases below.
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Role at the time: President of American Muckrakers PAC, writing in the PAC's Substack update on the count
Challenged the characterization
Response to this claim
The Boebert campaign is investigating 'some very unusual voting patterns' in the 4th District count, ballot returns since election night have been trending in Boebert's direction, and the campaign expects the race to go to a recount.
“The statement named no county, cited no data, and described no specific irregularity.”
Read the original text (opens in a new tab)CO-4 Update: Laubacher's Lead Grows to 3,069, and Boebert's Lawyer Alleges 'Unusual Voting Patterns'Section headed "Boebert's lawyer raises 'unusual voting patterns'" and the projection that follows
Why we used this label
The reference point is the Boebert campaign's claim, in a November 5 statement from its attorney Scott Gessler, that it is investigating 'some very unusual voting patterns' in the 4th District count and expects a recount. Wheeler says the statement offers no county, data or irregularity to support the claim of unusual voting patterns, which challenges how the campaign describes the count.
Role at the time: Ethics complainant and American Muckrakers co-founder
Mixed or conditional
Statement summary
Wheeler said Higgs's pay would violate the House rule if it reflected a family relationship rather than her duties. He asked the committee to determine her marital status and the basis for her raises.
“If that pay is tied to a family relationship rather than to the duties, it violates the House rule”
Read the original text (opens in a new tab)David B. Wheeler explains additions to the Boebert ethics complaint · David B. WheelerOctober 7, 2026 article, Addition 1: Jasmine B. Higgs and the family payroll; Additions 2 and 3
Why we used this label
The quoted statement alleges a violation only if pay was tied to a family relationship instead of work. It raises a condition for inquiry rather than establishing improper payments.
Role at the time: Complainant and president of American Muckrakers, writing in its newsletter
Condemned
Statement summary
In his September 26 newsletter post, Wheeler wrote that Boebert "didn't answer the records" and instead accused him of a crime. He wrote that he committed no crime, that his complaint is sworn under 28 U.S.C. Section 1746 and asks the Ethics Committee to investigate, and that her release is "a threat dressed up as a press release."
“Boebert didn't answer the records. She answered by accusing me of a crime.
Her official House press release was published on a taxpayer-funded government website says I "likely committed perjury and broke a federal law." Read that again: a sitting member of Congress used her official office to accuse a private citizen of a federal crime, in writing, on a .gov domain paid for by the public. I committed no crime. My complaint is sworn under 28 U.S.C. § 1746, the standard federal perjury exposure for a false statement, and it asks the Ethics Committee to do its job and investigate.
That's not a rebuttal. That's a threat dressed up as a press release.”
Read the original text (opens in a new tab)American Muckrakers, September 26, 2026: Lauren Boebert Called Me a Criminal. Here's What Actually Happened. I Need Your Support Now!Newsletter post, opening paragraph
Why we used this label
The case concerns alleged prohibited staff relationships and misuse of official or campaign funds. Wheeler answers Boebert's accusation that he committed perjury by saying he committed no crime, and he presses the complaint and asks the Ethics Committee to investigate, so the statement maintains the allegations rather than only disputing a label. The closest competing label is Challenged the characterization, because he rejects the perjury accusation; it does not fit because he goes on to press the complaint. His account of the complaint's basis remains his own assertion.
Role at the time: Complainant and president of American Muckrakers, writing in its newsletter
Condemned
Statement summary
In a newsletter post on September 26, 2026, David B. Wheeler, president of American Muckrakers, wrote that his September 17 ethics complaint against Rep. Lauren Boebert is not built on rumor but on House disbursement records, FEC filings, text messages and named sources who gave written statements. He also wrote that Boebert answered by accusing him of a crime and that he sent her a cease-and-desist letter on September 22. The post gives no names and presents none of the statements.
“On September 17, I filed a sworn ethics complaint against Rep. Lauren Boebert with the House Ethics Committee. It isn't built on rumor. It's built on House disbursement records, FEC filings, text messages, and named sources who gave written statements.”
Read the original text (opens in a new tab)American Muckrakers, September 26, 2026: Lauren Boebert Called Me a Criminal. Here's What Actually Happened. I Need Your Support Now!Newsletter post, opening paragraph
Why we used this label
The case concerns alleged prohibited staff relationships and misuse of official or campaign funds. Wheeler maintains that the complaint rests on records, text messages and named sources, which he offers in support of the allegations. The closest competing label is Challenged the characterization, because he rebuts the label of rumor; it does not fit because he goes on to assert the evidentiary basis for the allegations. The post presents none of the records or statements and does not show that the House Ethics Committee accepted the complaint.
Role at the time: President of American Muckrakers PAC and complainant
Defended or excused
Response to this claim
Jace Ratzlaff supplied information supporting David Wheeler's Boebert ethics complaint.
“Both sources are ready and willing to testify under oath”
Open source (opens in a new tab)Rep. Lauren Boebert gets a protection order after she's accused of having sex with staffersParagraphs on the protection order, and the paragraphs on Wheeler's sources and Jace Ratzlaff's polygraph
Why we used this label
Wheeler defends his source attribution, rather than accepting the denial.
Role at the time: Complainant and president of American Muckrakers, speaking to CBS Colorado
Condemned
Statement summary
CBS Colorado reported that Wheeler says an ex-husband of one of the staff members is one of his sources for the complaint. Wheeler told CBS Colorado that both of his sources are ready and willing to testify under oath and provide receipts without a subpoena, and that both of their statements are in his possession and were provided to the House Committee on Ethics.
“Both sources are ready and willing to testify under oath and provide receipts without subpoena. Both statements are in my possession and were provided to the House Committee on Ethics.”
Open source (opens in a new tab)Rep. Lauren Boebert gets a protection order after she's accused of having sex with staffersParagraphs on the protection order, and the paragraphs on Wheeler's sources and Jace Ratzlaff's polygraph
Why we used this label
The case concerns alleged prohibited staff relationships and misuse of official or campaign funds. Wheeler maintains the complaint's allegations and says two sources would testify and that their statements were provided to the House Ethics Committee, which he offers in support of the allegations. His statement gives no names and presents none of the statements, and CBS Colorado reports no confirmation from the Committee. Jace Ratzlaff, the ex-husband of a staffer, told CBS Colorado he is not one of Wheeler's sources.
Role at the time: Complainant and president of American Muckrakers, in a reply posted on the organization's X account
Condemned
Statement summary
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.”
Read the original post (opens in a new tab)American Muckrakers' X reply to Boebert's video statement · David B. WheelerFull text of the post, quoting Boebert's video by reference.
Why we used 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.
Role at the time: Complainant and president of American Muckrakers, posting from its X account and signing DBW
Condemned
Statement summary
Responding to Boebert's representative's denial, David B. Wheeler said his sources possess bank statements, messages, records, and recordings and are willing to provide documents and testimony. His September 20 X post provides none of those materials or named witnesses and does not establish that the House Ethics Committee accepted the complaint or opened an investigation.
“they are willing to give testimony under oath and provide documents without subpoena.”
The case concerns alleged prohibited staff relationships and misuse of official or campaign funds. Wheeler maintains that wrongdoing occurred, disputes Boebert's denial, and says his sources possess records and would testify. He is criticizing the alleged conduct. The post does not independently substantiate his evidence claims.
Rep. Lauren Boebert's campaign says it is investigating 'very unusual voting patterns' and expects a recount as Democrat Eileen Laubacher leads Colorado's 4th District count. The statement names no county or data, and Laubacher's lead remains above the automatic recount margin.
Wheeler identifies Ratzlaff as a source, and Ratzlaff denies involvement. This case asks who supplied information for the complaint, separately from whether the allegations against Boebert are true.
David Wheeler released an ethics complaint alleging misconduct by Rep. Lauren Boebert. Navarro and Boebert denied the relationship allegations, while a representative rejected the complaint more broadly. House rules raise a separate question about whether the committee can accept the submission.
