A prominent Wyoming Republican lawmaker finds herself embroiled in an unusual legal dispute with her former partner over an unpaid $6,000 hunting expedition to Zimbabwe that never materialised.
The Safari That Sparked the Legal Battle
State Representative Nina Webber, 61, faces a small-claims lawsuit filed by her ex-partner Scott Weber, 70, in Wyoming's Cody Circuit Court. Weber alleges the GOP politician failed to reimburse him for flights purchased for an extravagant leopard and elephant hunting trip in Africa.
The couple had shared nearly a decade together and previously enjoyed two safari hunting adventures in South Africa and Zimbabwe. According to court documents obtained by Cowboy State Daily, Weber testified that he purchased plane tickets for their latest planned excursion on December 13, 2024, shortly after Webber secured her seat in the Wyoming House of Representatives.
Weber claimed that while Webber had reimbursed him for previous trips, she failed to do so for this particular safari. He told the court that when he requested payment, Webber expressed wanting to wait until after Donald Trump's inauguration, hoping for economic improvement.
Conflicting Accounts of Events
Months later, Weber testified that Webber allegedly changed her position, claiming spring committee meetings would prevent her from travelling. Weber maintained that Webber knew her congressional schedule before they booked the trip.
The relationship reached its breaking point in late June when Weber confronted Webber about the outstanding payments. "You haven't been paying me rent. You haven't been taking care of this place at all. I think it's time for you to hit the road," Weber recounted telling her during his testimony.
He added: "But ... before you leave, I need you to put a check for $6,000 on the kitchen counter along with the keys - and she didn't either."
Webber presented a dramatically different version of events to the court. She testified that returning to Zimbabwe with Weber "never" crossed her mind, recalling a harrowing experience during their 2023 safari that left her feeling unsafe.
A Safari Nightmare Remembered
Webber described a terrifying incident where a highly venomous black mamba snake entered their camp, requiring a camp attendant to shoot it. She expressed concerns about security, claiming no law enforcement agents were nearby where they slept, though Weber disputed this account.
"It did become very clear that with this safari ... the natives had seen hunters. What they didn't see was blond-haired, blue-eyed, female hunters. That was apparent," Webber testified, explaining she felt threatened by locals and reluctant to leave their hunting vehicle.
The 2023 hippo-hunting expedition negatively affected their relationship, making her unwilling to travel with him again. Following their breakup, Webber moved out of their shared home, forcing her to leave the district she represented and relinquish her committee seat this month.
Political Fallout and Previous Legal Challenges
Despite the personal turmoil, Nina Webber continues serving as the Wyoming GOP's committeewoman to the Republican National Committee. Party chair Vince Vanata confirmed she gave up her committee seat due to moving out of her precinct after the separation.
This isn't Webber's first encounter with legal controversy. In 2023, she faced accusations of recklessly firing a rifle during an elk hunt, though authorities cleared her of those charges. At the time, she described the incident as a political "hit job" targeting conservative Republicans.
The current case before Judge Joseph Darrah continues, with the first hearing held on November 12 and the next session scheduled for December 10. The outcome could have significant implications for the Republican lawmaker's political career and personal finances.
