Politicians are rarely the most moral individuals. But there is a line that goes too far.
And now a bombshell investigation into this Republican left Capitol Hill in hysteria.
House Ethics Committee Launches Investigation into Rep. Cory Mills
The House Ethics Committee announced on November 19 that it will investigate Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) following the introduction of a censure resolution by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.). The bipartisan panel, led by Chairman Michael Guest (R-Miss.) and Ranking Member Susan Wild (D-Pa.), stated it would examine several categories of alleged misconduct.
In a joint press release, the committee outlined the scope of the probe, citing allegations that Mills may have: (1) failed to properly disclose required information on financial statements filed with the House; (2) violated campaign finance laws and regulations in connection with his 2022 and 2024 campaigns; (3) improperly solicited or received gifts, including in connection with privately sponsored officially-connected travel; (4) received special favors by virtue of his position; (5) engaged in misconduct related to allegations of s-xual misconduct and/or dating violence; and/or (6) misused congressional resources or status.
Mills, an Iraq War veteran and former defense industry executive who was first elected in 2022 to represent Florida’s 7th District, has denied any wrongdoing.
Censure Resolution Referred to Ethics Committee After Floor Vote
On Wednesday, Mace introduced a resolution to censure Mills and remove him from his assignments on the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees. Rather than hold an up-or-down vote on the measure, the House voted 310-103 to refer the resolution to the Ethics Committee for further review.
Some Republican members criticized the referral process, arguing that the full House should have voted directly on the censure.
“Tonight I voted NO to refer the Cory Mills censure resolution to Ethics Committee because the House should vote yes or no to censure Cory Mills not continue to protect their own in secret committees,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) wrote on X.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) expressed similar concerns about the procedural move.
Accusations of Behind-the-Scenes Dealings Surface
The handling of Mills’ resolution has drawn attention in part because it followed a failed Republican-led effort the previous day to censure Virgin Islands Delegate Stacey Plaskett (D-V.I.) over her past communications with Jeffrey Epstein. That measure fell short after several Republicans voted against it or did not vote.
Some GOP lawmakers suggested a connection between the two votes.
Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) posted on X after the Plaskett vote: “A handful of Republicans took a dive on a vote to strip Stacy [sic] Plaskett of her position on House intel because of her ties to Epstein. They did it to protect a Republican facing his own ethics issues from a similar vote. This backroom deal s— is swampy, wrong and always deserves to be called out.”
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) made a similar claim, writing: “The Plaskett censure failed because house leadership exchanged that censure failure for the withdrawal of a vote to censure and refer Cory Mills to house ethics for investigation. The swamp protects itself.”
Mills rejected any suggestion of a deal, stating on social media: “There was no backroom deal, no negotiation, and no quid pro quo of any kind that would’ve forced the Democrats to stand down that vote against me. Anyone pushing that narrative is just wrong.”
Mills added that he had anticipated a floor vote on his own censure resolution as early as Tuesday. The Ethics Committee investigation is ongoing, and no timeline for its conclusion has been announced.
