Boebert Criticizes Calls for House Ethics Inquiry into Husband’s Income | Local and state policy

[ad_1]

A former Democratic state lawmaker on Tuesday filed a formal complaint asking the Congressional Ethics Office to investigate payments from an energy company totaling more than $ 900,000 over a two-year period to the husband of the US Rep. Lauren Boebert, a limp Republican and ardent supporter of the oil and gas industry.

Former State Representative Bri Buentello, D-Pueblo, a persistent critic of Boebert, alleges in the complaint that the payments first revealed in a personal financial disclosure form filed last week by Boebert could go to the ‘against federal corruption laws and a House rule that bans influence trading, highlighting legislation Boebert introduced this year to boost the oil and gas industry, a major economic engine in his district.

Boebert reported that her husband, Jayson Boebert, received $ 478,386 last year from Terra Energy Productions for “consulting services” and received $ 460,601 from the same company in 2019, when a previous file mentioned her husband’s income as “N / A”. The disclosure was first reported by The Associated Press.

Disclosure Statements: Boebert’s Husband Made Nearly $ 500,000 Consulting for an Oil and Gas Company

Boebert, owner of a gun-themed restaurant in Rifle, surprised five-term U.S. Representative Scott Tipton in last year’s GOP primary and won the general election in the 3rd Congressional District Republican-oriented, based at Western Slope.

The AP said there does not appear to be a company named Terra Energy Productions doing business in Colorado, although Texas-based Terra Energy Partners advertises itself as “one of the largest producers of natural gas. of Colorado “.

Buentello alleges in his complaint that the large payments are “inconsistent with Mr Boeberts’ qualifications in relation to that level of pay,” citing data on pay-for-employment which shows oil and gas workers in positions of employment. Similar positions typically earn $ 41,000 to $ 84,000, with the highest earners drawing $ 174,000. annually. She also notes that Jayson Boebert’s compensation increased from 2019 to 2020, despite a sharp decline in drilling activity nationwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The disproportionate size and late disclosure of this compensation raises questions as to when these funds were actually paid to Jayson Boebert, and whether this compensation was paid in exchange for actions taken by Representative Lauren Boebert since being sworn in to Congress. in January, “Buentello wrote. .

Lauren Boebert Introduces Bills Targeting Paris Climate Accord, Mask Mandate, China

As a member of the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Representative Boebert introduced legislation in February to overturn President Joe Bidens’ temporary ban on leasing oil and gas on federal lands and the revocation of a license for the Keystone XL pipeline, which would have materially benefited Terra Energy Partners. “

Boebert’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but last week Ben Stout, Boebert’s deputy chief of staff, said in an email to the AP: Mr Boebert worked in the power generation for 18 years and has had Boebert Consulting since 2012. For any other questions regarding the finances of members of Congress, I refer you to the disclosure she filed.

The Congressional Ethics Office does not comment on complaints or requests for investigation and can take months to decide whether to launch a formal investigation.

Buentello volunteers for Rural Colorado United, a political committee that has been campaigning to defeat Boebert since last summer. In January, she sued Boebert for preventing her from interacting with the lawmaker’s personal Twitter account, but in June a federal judge refused to issue an injunction, saying Boebert was within his rights.

U.S. District Court rules in favor of Representative Lauren Boebert on Twitter blocking trial

Last week, Buentello called on the Boeberts to release several years of tax returns and demanded that Jayson Boebert detail “the specific work he did for Terra Energy Productions to earn this million dollar payment.”

At Rural Colorado United, we have always known that there was something hidden in Boeberts’ personal financial disclosures; hence his intentional one-year delay in filing these reports, ”Buentello told Colorado Politics in a text message.

“We’re sure this latest revelation of nearly $ 1 million in hidden oil and gas industry revenue is just the tip of the iceberg, given Boeberts’ track record of blatant and contemptuous disregard. of the law.

Lauren Boebert to protesters at Conservative Western Summit: Find a job

Democrats condemn Lauren Boebert’s tweet comparing vaccination to ‘needle nazis’

Lauren Boebert says she stands up for ordinary Americans, pushes back criticism in bustling telephone town hall

Lamborn and Boebert among Coloradans call on Supreme Court to overturn gun safety law

[ad_2]