Boebert’s tax liens come under scrutiny as she faces potential ethics investigation

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) paid off nearly $20,000 in state tax liens that had accumulated on her restaurant since 2016 less than two weeks before she was elected to Congress, Colorado Newsline reports.

Shooters Grill, the gun-themed restaurant owned by Boebert, accumulated eight liens for nonpayment of unemployment insurance premiums between 2016 and 2020. By early 2020, the restaurant owed the state $19,552.86. According to Garfield County records obtained by Newsline, three of the liens totaling $553.50, were paid off. The remaining five liens, totaling $18,999.36, were paid off on Oct. 22, 2020.

Boebert did not respond to Colorado Newsline's story. There is still no information on what led to the liens on her restaurant or how they were paid off.

This Wednesday, the Denver Post reported that ethics experts are asking questions about the more than $22,000 in mileage reimbursements Boebert paid herself from her campaign last year.

The watchdog group Accountable.US later submitted a formal request to the Office of Congressional Ethics asking for an investigation.

"Boebert's curious campaign travel expenses warrant an immediate investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics. She has refused to provide exculpatory evidence to the public, so it is critical she is held to account for this potential abuse of campaign funds," said Accountable.US president Kyle Herrig.