Rep. Nancy Mace urged Rep. Lauren Boebert and her staff to consult attorneys and consider defamation lawsuits after an ethics complaint accused Boebert of sexual relationships with three aides. The complaint, filed Sept. 17 by David B. Wheeler of American Muckrakers, names three staffers and alleges a $200,000 payment; the House Ethics Committee has not yet acted. Boebert denies the claims and has criticized reporters for publishing names without checking committee rules. Mace pointed to the higher "actual malice" standard public figures must meet under New York Times Co. v. Sullivan.
Nancy Mace Urges Lauren Boebert To Consider Defamation Lawsuits After Ethics Complaint Alleging Affairs With Aides
Nancy Mace & Lauren Boebert
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) publicly encouraged Rep. Lauren Boebert and her staff to consult lawyers and consider defamation suits after an ethics complaint accused Boebert of having sexual relationships with three of her aides.
What Happened
The complaint, filed Sept. 17 by David B. Wheeler, founder of the Democratic super PAC American Muckrakers, names former District Director Clarice Navarro, current District Chief of Staff Raven Finegan, and former Chief of Staff Jeffrey Small. It alleges that Boebert had sexual relations with those aides—two of whom are women—and that the congresswoman paid $200,000 to one aide. Those claims have not been proven, and the House Committee on Ethics has not said whether it will open an investigation.
Mace's Response And Legal Advice
"I hope all of you have grounds to sue the s*** out of this guy and anyone that spread this garbage. The standard for defamation is easier for your employees. Defamation per se is more difficult for a public figure (I know this all too well). I'd get an attorney involved asap," Rep. Nancy Mace wrote on X in response to a video Boebert posted.
Boebert's Denial And Reaction
Boеbert has denied the allegations. Speaking to Sources Say News, she said, "Well, I'm not a lesbian or bisexual, and I have never, ever been in any inappropriate relationship, nor have I ever been sexually involved with any staff." A spokesperson for her office called the filing "a politically motivated stunt designed to manipulate the ethics process, create headlines, smear her, and generate clickbait."
In the video that prompted Mace's post, Boebert accused reporters of repeating what she called a smear and criticized newsrooms for publishing staff names without checking committee rules. She said the complaint has harmed her aides and urged journalists to be more careful when reporting allegations that include private staffers' names and photos.
Legal And Ethics Context
The exchange highlighted a key principle of U.S. defamation law. Following the Supreme Court's decision in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964) and subsequent rulings, public officials and other public figures generally must demonstrate that an alleged false statement was made with "actual malice"—that is, knowing falsity or reckless disregard for the truth. By contrast, private individuals, including many staffers, typically face a lower standard in many states and may find it easier to pursue defamation claims.
Separately, House ethics rules adopted in 2018 bar members from engaging in sexual relationships with subordinates, even if consensual, except where the member is married to the subordinate. That policy is the basis for concerns about any alleged relationships between lawmakers and staff.
Background On Related Litigation
Mace has her own history with defamation litigation. In May 2025 she sued Eric Bernard Bowman alleging false and malicious statements. Earlier in 2025 she was sued for defamation by Brian Musgrave, one of the four men she accused of sexual assault during a House-floor speech; that suit was dismissed in August 2025 after a judge concluded the case could not proceed under federal law because the Justice Department, representing her, can act without her consent when she performs official duties. The dismissal did not resolve whether the statements were defamatory.
What Comes Next
The Ethics Committee has not announced whether it will investigate Wheeler's filing. Boebert, who is running for re-election in November in Colorado's 4th Congressional District, continues to deny the allegations and has criticized the reporting and the motives behind the complaint. Others named in the filing, including Boebert's ex-husband Jayson Boebert and Clarice Navarro Ratzlaff, have also publicly denied the claims. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, whose name was mentioned in an attached source claim, invited anyone with evidence to come forward.
The situation involves overlapping legal, ethical, and political considerations: the standards for proving defamation, the House rules on relationships with staff, and the potential for partisan or reputational damage if unproven allegations circulate in the press and online.
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