Lauren Boebert Slammed For Violating Campaign Finance Laws, Paid Utilities With Funds, FEC Report Shows

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., is under fire after a new filing with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) revealed she used campaign funds to pay rent and utilities, a violation of federal campaign finance laws.

The filing revealed Boebert’s campaign funds were used four times to pay her personal expenses. Boebert made two payments of $2,000 and two for $1,325.

The payments were amended to show the same amount going to John Pacheco. His address was the same as Shooters Grill in Rifle, Colorado, which is owned by Boebert.

News of Boebert’s scandal comes after she failed to report that her husband, Jayson Boebert, was paid $478,000 from Terra Energy Productions last year during her campaign.

On Thursday, Boebert’s name became a trending topic, with users slamming her for misusing her campaign funds.

“Lauren Boebert voted against anti-eviction bills and extending benefits during the pandemic, and then turned around and paid rent and utilities with campaign funds. Her stupidity is exceeded only by her hypocrisy,” one post read.

Another user suggested Boebert should be sentenced to time in prison due to her error.

“BREAKING: Lauren Boebert paid rent and utilities with campaign funds, a violation of federal election law. That will be fixed soon enough, as she should be receiving free rent and utilities from the Colorado Department of Corrections,” read the post.

Following the news, Jake Settle, Boebert’s press secretary, claimed she made a mistake by using the campaign account to pay her personal bills. However, he said she self-reported the error and paid back the account.

In August, Shannon Ringgold, the senior campaign finance analyst at the FEC, wrote to Boebert’s campaign that if “personal use of campaign funds, the Commission may consider taking further legal action.”

“However, prompt action to obtain reimbursement of the funds in question will be taken into consideration,” Ringgold stated.

A filing submitted Tuesday by Boebert’s campaign stated the funds used were reimbursed and would be reported in October.