On Wednesday night, the House of Representatives voted 310-103 to refer the censure resolution against Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) to the House Committee on Ethics, rather than holding a direct vote on censure.
The referral effectively halted any immediate disciplinary action and delayed the process indefinitely.
Eight Republicans — led by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) — voted against referring the measure, insisting the House should take an immediate vote on censure.
Mace introduced the resolution seeking to censure Mills and remove him from the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees, citing accusations of “stolen valor,” domestic abuse, and questionable arms deal contracts. Most Republicans sided with leadership in sending the matter to Ethics rather than condemning Mills on the floor.
At nearly the same time, the Ethics Committee formally opened a broad investigation into allegations against Mills, including financial disclosure failures, campaign finance violations, sexual misconduct and dating violence claims, and potential misuse of congressional resources.
The investigation follows a series of allegations. In July, Lindsey Langston — Miss United States 2024 and a GOP state committee member — filed a complaint with the Columbia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office. She alleged that after their breakup, Mills threatened to release intimate images or videos of her and warned he would harm any future romantic partner she might have. A Florida judge later issued a restraining order, finding Langston had “reasonable cause to believe she is in danger of becoming a victim of another act of dating violence.”
In February, D.C. Metro Police investigated an alleged assault at Mills’ Washington penthouse. A woman identified as Sarah Raviani initially told police that Mills grabbed and shoved her, though she later recanted. Raviani told local media that while officers may have observed “bruising and marks,” there was “no physical altercation.”
Opponents also point to what they describe as a broader pattern of threats and manipulative behavior toward women.
Separately, questions have been raised about Mills’ claimed Bronze Star, with some accounts suggesting key details behind the award do not match recollections of others involved.
Mace also released a screenshot of sexually explicit text messages she says Mills sent to Raviani, depicting coercive demands — allegations both Mills and Raviani have denied.
The dispute between Mace and Mills escalated into a profanity-filled confrontation on the House floor shortly before the vote. Politico has reported additional details on the exchange:
Rep. Cory Mills said he spoke to fellow GOP Rep. Nancy Mace on the House floor before her attempt to censure him was derailed, and claimed she was speaking in vulgar profanity.
“Anything from the P word to you’re a POS to FU to all the — I mean, if you could just fill in the blanks on all that,” Mills told reporters after lawmakers moved to punt the matter to the Ethics Committee. “She talks about conduct, and she talks about trying to take the moral ground. I think that she’s not the right person to do that.”
A spokesperson for Mace responded with a series of photos featuring a person applying clown makeup, seemingly implying that Mills was a clown.
Mills said he’s happy to work with the Ethics panel, which announced an investigative subcommittee Wednesday to probe the allegations against him. The Florida Republican added he intends to run for reelection regardless of a new GOP primary challenge.
For now, the House Ethics Committee has launched what it calls a “wide-ranging” inquiry into Mills’ conduct. Investigators will review potential campaign finance violations, misuse of official resources, allegations of dating violence or sexual misconduct, and whether Mills failed to make required financial disclosures or accepted improper gifts.
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