Rep. Lauren Boebert has spent years telling America that LGBTQ+ people, drag performers, and inclusive teachers are 'grooming' children. This week, her own 21-year-old son was arrested and charged with three felonies tied to the sexual exploitation of a child.
The Charges Against Tyler Boebert
Court records reviewed by The Denver Post show Tyler Boebert faces three felony counts stemming from an alleged incident on New Year's Day 2024: sexual exploitation of a child, child exploitation with intent to deal in, sell, or distribute sexually exploitative material, and a third charge tied to videotaped material. He also faces two misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Rep. Boebert responded Monday afternoon with a brief statement: "I love my son. We take these allegations very seriously and pray for everyone affected during this challenging time."
I love my son. We take these allegations very seriously and pray for everyone affected during this challenging time.
Lauren Boebert
A Track Record of 'Grooming' Rhetoric
Boebert has built part of her political brand on accusing LGBTQ+ people of endangering children. In 2022 alone, she mocked a reality series about drag culture with the line "Siri, define grooming," attacked a teacher for using LGBTQ+-inclusive flashcards, accused a federal health official of "grooming" kids by supporting gender-affirming care, and warned drag queens to "stay away from the children" over a library story hour. She has also pushed to block trans-inclusive TSA policies and opposes marriage equality, stating on her website that marriage should remain between "one man and one woman."
Not the First Arrest
Tyler Boebert was already known to police. In February 2024, he was charged with five felonies and several misdemeanors after he and three underage co-defendants allegedly broke into parked cars in Rifle, Colorado, stole credit cards and IDs, and used them at local gas stations. Investigators said one victim, a woman with a brain tumor, was left with just $75 to her name. At the time, one of the underage suspects also accused Tyler Boebert of making and circulating a video described as a
Sources: LGBTQ Nation, The Advocate
Cover photo: House Creative Services, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
