House Ethics Committee Announces It Is Investigating Congressman Cory Mills

Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., faces a House Ethics Committee investigation following the introduction of a censure resolution by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., on Wednesday that was ultimately referred to the committee.

In a Nov. 19 press release, the Ethics Committee’s chairman and ranking member said they would look into whether Mills had broken the law or otherwise violated standards of conduct.

The release specifically cited “allegations that [Mills] may have: (1) failed to properly disclose required information on statements required to be filed with the House; (2) violated campaign finance laws and regulations in connection with his 2022 and 2024 election campaigns; (3) improperly solicited and/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 with respect to allegations of sexual misconduct and/or dating violence; and/or (6) misused congressional resources or status.”

Mills, who represents Florida’s 7th Congressional District, has denied committing any wrong. The Army veteran of the Iraq War first joined the House of Representatives in 2023 after a successful business career in the defense industry, where he co-founded companies that provided risk management and security services.

On Wednesday, Mace introduced a resolution to censure Mills and strip him of his assignments on the House Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The House ended up voting by a margin of 310-to-103 to avoid an up-or-down vote on the resolution by referring it to the House Ethics Committee. 

Some Republicans have blamed Mills’ alleging political maneuvering behind the scenes for the House’s failure Tuesday to censure Virgin Islands Delegate Stacey Plaskett over her texts with Jeffrey Epstein during a congressional hearing.

Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., posted on X after the Tuesday night vote on Plaskett, “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., appeared to agree, writing on X, “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, for his part, denied participating in any backroom deal to avoid being punished by the chamber, stating on social media that he had expected to have a vote on his censure brought to the floor on Tuesday, which was also the day of the Plaskett vote.

“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,” Mills said in a statement, adding, “Anyone pushing that narrative is just wrong.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who has been unafraid to criticize Republican leadership in recent months, along with fellow Republican lawmaker Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., decried the decision to refer the censure resolution to the House Ethics Committee.

“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,” Greene wrote on X.

The Daily Signal has reached out to Mills’ office for comment. The House Committee on Ethics declined to comment.