Lauren Boebert Faces Pressure Over Reported Drag Bar Campaign Spending

Colorado Republican Lauren Boebert has come under fire for allegedly spending campaign money at a bar known to have hosted drag shows, with disgruntled social media users calling for an audit of her finances.

Anger against the congresswoman has grown after Politico wrote on Sunday that Boebert spent "hundreds of dollars" at the bar co-owned by Quinn Gallagher.

Boebert and Gallagher made headlines in early September when the two were kicked out of a Beetlejuice: The Musical performance at the Buell Theater in Denver for disturbing other patrons with actions that included vaping, being loud, and groping each other. Boebert initially denied that she was acting out before apologizing for her behavior after the incident reached national attention following the release of CCTV footage.

Newsweek contacted Boebert's team for comment by email on Monday.

But weeks before the Buell Theater incident, in late July, the Colorado congresswoman's campaign reportedly spent $317.48 at Gallagher's Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar in Aspen, Co., according to her most recent campaign finance filings.

Crucially, Hooch is a gay-friendly bar known to have previously hosted drag shows—something that the Colorado Republican has repeatedly spoken against and condemned.

Gallagher, a 46-year-old Colorado native, started out as bar manager of Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar with co-bar manager Pat Flannigan in April 2016. The two took over as general managers in 2021 and officially became co-owners in 2022, according to The Aspen Times.

Since then, the venue has hosted several events in support of the LGBTQ+ community, including a women's party for Aspen Gay Ski Week and a "Winter Wonderland Burlesque & Drag Show"—something that has caused many on social media to call Boebert a hypocrite.

After the storm surrounding the late September incident, Boebert said she was no longer dating Gallagher because he's a Democrat, according to TMZ. But new controversy was stirred by news that Boebert used her campaign money at the bar, an expenditure that was listed as "event catering."

"Anyone else think that Boebert's finances should [be] the subject of an investigation?," wrote Call to Activism, an account on X, formerly Twitter, which says it helps Democratic candidates communicate more effectively.

"Lauren Boebert spent hundreds of dollars in campaign donations on a party at the bar owned by her handsy Beetlejuice date, her latest campaign finance filings show. How's this legal?," wrote on X the account Republicans against Trump.

"Such a remarkable demonstration of fiscal wisdom! Hosting a party with campaign funds is truly a beacon of ethical judgment," wrote another user. "Colorado's 3rd District, are you ready to make a change? Time to vote her out."

"Lauren Boebert has been outspoken about her criticisms of drag queens, but that didn't stop her from campaign dollars at a bar that hosts drag shows," wrote an account named Really American.

"In past tweets, Boebert was vocally hostile about drag shows—calling them 'depravity'—and opposed allowing transgender children to receive gender affirming care."

"Do you think Lauren Boebert's campaign spending should be investigated by the Attorney General? YES or NO," wrote another user on the platform.