House ethics panel launches investigation into Rep. Cory Mills
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Rep. Cory Mills at a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Feb. 29, 2024. Photo: Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images
The House Ethics Committee announced an investigation into Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) on Wednesday, just hours before lawmakers are set vote on whether to censure him.
Why it matters: The panel voted to establish an investigative subcommittee to examine a variety of allegations against Mills, including sexual misconduct.
- Mills has faced allegations of domestic abuse, stolen valor and financial misconduct, all of which he denies.
- Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) plans to force a vote on censuring Mills and removing him from several committees Wednesday night.
The details: Ethics says they are investigating Mills for failure to properly disclose information, violation of campaign finance laws, improperly soliciting or receiving gifts, receiving special favors and allegations of sexual misconduct.
- In October, a Florida judge granted a protective order against Mills after a former girlfriend accused him of threatening to release sexually explicit photos and videos of her.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) brushed off questions at the time about the order, but told reporters that Ethics would investigate Mills, "if it warrants that."
Between the lines: Members may have an easier time voting against censuring Mills now that Ethics has launched an investigation.
- Committee members have also recused themselves from censure votes in the past if the matter is already before the committee.
Zoom out: While the House Ethics Committee has a reputation for being toothless, its investigations have had significant ramifications for lawmakers under its scrutiny recent years.
- Former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) was expelled from Congress in 2023 in a bipartisan vote after a report from the panel accused him of a "complex web of unlawful activity."
- Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) resigned the following year to pursue a short-lived nomination for Attorney General that many of his colleagues saw as a clear attempt to scuttle the release of an Ethics Committee report on him.
- The panel ended up voting to release the report, which accused Gaetz of violating state and federal law, including through sexual misconduct and drug use, which he denied.
What to watch: Ethics Committee investigations can take months or even years, and the array of allegations against Mills points to a particularly complex investigation.
- The panel often subpoenas thousands of documents and interviewed hundreds of witnesses as part of its marquee probes.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
