Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., arrives to address the media on behalf of President Donald Trump at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 14, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
This report has been updated.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives Ethics Committee opened an investigation Wednesday into Republican Rep. Cory Mills of Florida over numerous allegations, including violations of campaign finance laws and sexual misconduct or dating violence.
The investigative subcommittee will investigate six different possible rule violations, including Mill’s:
- Did not provide required information to the House of Representatives.
- Violated campaign finance laws in 2022 and 2024.
- Gifts improperly requested or received in connection with an official trip sponsored by a private group.
- “Received special benefits due to his position.”
- Committed sexual misconduct or violence while dating.
- “Abuse of Congressional Resources or Status.”
Mills, first elected in 2022 to represent the state 7th Congressional Districthas denied many of the allegations made against him during his brief time in Congress.
The committee noted that the formation of an investigative subcommittee “is not in itself an indication that a violation has occurred.”
Rep. Mace called for censure
The Ethics Commission’s launch of an investigation came just hours after Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina introduced a censure resolution against Mills.
Mills denied the allegations and moved the censure motion to be referred to the Ethics Committee, which the House of Representatives approved by a vote of 310 to 103. A total of 12 MPs voted “present”.
“I think it’s very clear that the real jurisdictional committee is actually the ethics committee and working with them is a top priority,” Mills said. “I believe that all the accusations and false things that are said will be proven to be absolutely false in many ways. And I have the evidence and evidence and I look forward to working with them.”
If the House had voted to formally censure Mills, it would not have removed him from Congress but would have stripped him of his assignments on the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees.
Mace said during a speech that her no-confidence resolution had addressed elements in an investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics Several allegations have been leveled against Mills, including that companies he owns have contracts with the federal government while he is a member of Congress.
Mace’s censure motion rebuked Mills for saying he held a Bronze Star for heroism related to his time in Iraq, stating: “Retired Brigadier General Arnold N. Gordon-Bray has stated that he did not personally write, read or sign Department of the Army Form 638 recommending Representative Cory Mills for a Bronze Star.”
The resolution continued: “Five people who served with Representative Cory Mills, including two men who were reported to have been personally rescued by Representative Cory Mills at great risk to their own lives, as the basis for the recommendation for his Bronze Star on the Department of the Army’s Form 638, denied that Representative Cory Mills was involved in their rescue or provided life-saving care.”
The no-confidence resolution also points to instances of alleged dating violence by Mills, including a judge issuing a protective order.
mills posted a statement on social media by his chief of staff and general counsel, Catherine Treadwell.
“General Bray approved and approved this award, and any claim that I signed General Bray’s papers without authorization is uninformed at best and offensive slander at worst,” Treadwell wrote.
The House Ethics Committee sets no deadline for completing its investigations, which often take months or even years.
