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Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) has responded after a salacious video of her on a date at a Colorado theater went viral, and for all the wrong reasons.
Reports noted that Boebert issued an apology on Friday after she was escorted out of a performance of “Beetlejuice” in Denver on September 10 following patron complaints about her vaping and engaging in other disruptive behavior.
The video appeared to show the Colorado Republican groping her date and him doing the same to her, which may have violated public decency laws in the state, though she won’t be charged, according to Newsweek.
“All future date nights have been canceled,” Boebert told a photographer for TMZ in Washington, D.C., on Monday. “And I learned to check party affiliations before you go on a date, but all in all, you know… it was mostly a lovely time, and you know, I’ve taken responsibility for my actions.”
Rep. Lauren Boebert speaks out about her now-viral theater date night 👀 Watch the full video here: https://t.co/ePwTuPjhXN pic.twitter.com/emsAPlGWJR
— TMZ (@TMZ) September 18, 2023
Quinn Gallagher, Boebert’s date, is reportedly a registered Democrat and the co-owner of a bar that has featured drag queen shows. The Colorado Republican has criticized the hosting of drag shows that also include children in the audience.
She said she and Quinn had “peacefully” parted ways, adding that the departure had “nothing to do” with anything reported about him. Rather, the issue was his status as a “private citizen.”
“Great man, great friend, and I wish him all the best,” she said, adding, “There’s a lot of folks who are certainly understanding, and they understand that it was part of my personal life, my private time, something that I rarely indulge in.”
Meanwhile, her ex-husband, Jayson Boebert, has penned an open letter posted to Facebook addressing the “attacks” against her.
“I feel the people should know the truth of our broken marriage and the burden she has carried for too long,” he said.
Lauren filed for divorce in May. The couple was together for nearly 20 years, and they have four boys together.
“She has provided me with love, and support, and honored me through every misstep,” Jayson said. “Her strengths were always used to cover my weaknesses. Throughout our 20 years together, she has been my rock, my confidant, and my best friend. Her unwavering commitment to our family has been truly admirable, and I am devastated by the pain I have caused her.”
He said he takes “full responsibility” for his actions while admitting to being “unfaithful to Lauren in so many ways.”
“It upsets me that everyone believes she left me over fame or a new lifestyle. That is far from the truth,” he said. “Then again, most of what’s said about our family is untrue. Another battle we have faced together for too long. Much of this is on me because the problem starts at the root. I am the root.”
He also asked for people to forgive his ex- as she works to rehab her image.
Boebert barely won her reelection race in November after a recount that took weeks to complete, and it looks as though she’ll have a tough time again next year.
After the Democrat-controlled state legislature redrew congressional districts following the 2020 Census, her district became far less red and is now considered a “toss-up” by the Cook Political Report. Previously the political analysis firm had her district at “lean Republican.”
There is also a fundraising aspect to the change.
“Cook Political Report editor David Wasserman said the change in the rating comes after recent campaign finance disclosures revealed Boebert’s challenger raised more than three times what Boebert raised in the second quarter,” The Hill reported on Friday.
Boebert, known for her strong conservative views, is set to engage in a high-stakes rematch with former Aspen City Councilman Adam Frisch, a Democrat, in the upcoming election. In the previous 2022 race, Boebert narrowly defeated Frisch by a mere 546 votes, leading to an automatic recount. However, before the recount was finalized, Frisch conceded the election to Boebert.
“In the latest second quarter campaign filings, covering the months of April through June, Frisch raised an impressive $2.6 million, which is more than three times Boebert’s roughly $818,000,” The Hill noted.
