U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert’s ex-husband arrested on assault charges for fight with son days after restaurant incident

Jayson Boebert, U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert’s ex-husband, shoved his thumb into the mouth of one of their sons during an altercation early Tuesday morning, just days after the pair had their own public incident at a western Colorado restaurant, Garfield County sheriff’s deputies said in an affidavit filed Tuesday.

Jayson Boebert repeatedly yelled and cursed at police officers before they escorted him out of the Miner’s Claim restaurant in Silt after what he called a “domestic violence abuse” incident with the congresswoman over the weekend, according to a second arrest affidavit also filed Tuesday.

Silt police determined the domestic abuse claim against Lauren Boebert was unfounded after Jayson Boebert recanted and due to a lack of evidence supporting the claim, according to a Wednesday news release.

Jayson Boebert was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of misdemeanor assault, criminal mischief, prohibited use of a firearm, obstructing a peace officer, trespassing and disorderly conduct in connection to both incidents, according to court records. Online records from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation show he also faces a second assault charge.

The affidavits for both incidents, obtained Wednesday by The Denver Post, show Silt police suspect him of trespassing, obstructing a peace officer and disorderly conduct in the Saturday incident with the congresswoman and Garfield County deputies suspect him of assault, harassment and prohibited use of a firearm in the Tuesday incident.

According to the affidavit filed for the Saturday incident, Jayson Boebert called Silt police to report “domestic violence abuse” at the Miner’s Claim Restaurant just before 8 p.m. Saturday. He claimed Lauren Boebert punched him in the nose.

The responding officer spoke outside the restaurant with Lauren Boebert, who said she and Jayson Boebert were discussing their relationship, and as the conversation got “heated” during an argument, she put her finger on Jayson Boebert’s nose “to end the conversation,” according to the affidavit, and that was when he called the police.

“Lauren explained to (the officer) that Jayson is hurt and she believes he is doing this tonight to make her suffer like he is after the divorce,” the affidavit states.

The two had been drinking, but Lauren Boebert said Jayson Boebert drank more than her while at their old house before going to the restaurant. Lauren Boebert said while at the house, “things got tense and Jayson had come at her,” and she shoved him away.

During Lauren Boebert’s interview with the officer at the restaurant, Jayson Boebert, who police described as “highly intoxicated,” was yelling and eventually went back into the crowded restaurant. The officer and other responding officers repeatedly asked him to go back outside, but he refused, according to the affidavit.

Jayson Boebert started cursing and yelling at officers that he wanted to drink more and get more drunk.

Officers then had to force him out of the restaurant after asking him to leave at least eight times, according to the affidavit.

Officers observed no marks or injuries on Jayson Boebert to corroborate he had been assaulted, according to the Silt police news release.

Earlier Tuesday morning, before the arrest, Garfield County deputies at about 1 a.m. responded to a call from one of Jayson and Lauren Boebert’s sons that Jayson Boebert had assaulted him, according to the second arrest affidavit.

The son told deputies Jayson returned home from a restaurant drunk and started an argument with him.

Jayson Boebert “shoved him by placing one hand in the area of his throat/neck and pushing back,” the affidavit states. “(The son) became upset at this point and a physical altercation began between Jayson and him. During the physical altercation, Jayson stuck his right-hand thumb into (his son’s) mouth. While Jayson dug his thumb into (his son’s) mouth, (his son) felt that Jayson was going to pull his tooth out.”

After the altercation stopped, Jayson Boebert’s son called Lauren Boebert, then law enforcement. Jayson Boebert then grabbed a rifle and went outside, according to the affidavit.

Garfield County jail records show Jayson Boebert was released Tuesday. His bail was set at $1,000 for the criminal mischief charge and $1,500 for the assault charge, according to court records.

Jayson Boebert told The Post in a short Sunday phone interview that he called the Silt Police Department on Sunday morning and told police he does not want to press charges.

“I don’t want nothing to happen,” Jayson Boebert said. “Her and I were working through a difficult conversation.”

Jayson Boebert ended the interview without answering more questions about what happened.

Attempts to reach Jayson Boebert by phone on Wednesday morning were unsuccessful.

A political group that opposes Lauren Boebert accused the congresswoman of punching her ex-husband, but she denied that allegation. Police did not confirm that report.

Boebert campaign manager Drew Sexton declined to comment Wednesday on Jayson Boebert’s arrest.

“This is a sad situation for all that keeps escalating and another reason I’m moving,” Lauren Boebert said earlier, on Sunday, in a statement from her campaign. “I didn’t punch Jayson in the face and no one was arrested.”

Lauren Boebert, a Republican who represents Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, filed for divorce in April, citing irreconcilable differences. The Boeberts’ divorce was finalized in October, after 18 years of marriage. They have four sons and one grandchild.

Last month, Boebert, who faced a serious repeat challenge from Democrat Adam Frisch in 2022, announced she was switching districts and will run in the 4th Congressional District this year to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Ken Buck.

Staff writer John Aguilar contributed to this story.