Republican Florida Rep. Cory Mills narrowly avoided a formal censure by his colleagues on Wednesday evening after the vast majority of House Republicans voted to scuttle the measure offered by Republican South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace. The vote, which exposed deep Republican infighting, saved Mills from being stripped of his committee assignments.
Nearly all GOP lawmakers and half of Democrats voted to table the measure and refer the allegations against Mills to the House Ethics Committee.
Mace, who has intensified her criticism of Mills in recent months, forced a vote on her resolution, citing “myriad ethical allegations” against her Republican colleague. The resolution specifically sought to remove Mills from the powerful House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees.
During the dramatic floor vote, Mace stood at the podium as her censure resolution was read, staring directly at Mills, who sat just a few seats away.
Mace’s resolution drew upon reports that disputed Mills’ account of events leading to a Bronze Star recommendation. It also highlighted a December 2024 Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) report that suggested Mills may have violated House rules by potentially holding onto federal contracts while in office; Mills was a defense contractor before entering Congress in 2023.
The failed censure effort came just hours after the House Ethics Committee announced the creation of a new subcommittee to investigate an array of allegations against Mills, including claims of sexual misconduct and financial impropriety. Mills has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Mace slammed the timing of the Ethics Committee’s announcement, calling it “a naked attempt to kill my resolution.” She referenced a Florida judge’s decision in October to bar Mills from contacting his ex-girlfriend, the reigning Miss United States Lindsey Langston, who accused Mills of threatening to publish sexually explicit photos and videos of her following their breakup. Mills has not been charged in connection with these “revenge porn” allegations. RELATED: Florida Judge Issues Protective Order Against Rep. Cory Mills After Ex-Girlfriend’s Threat Claims
“Common sense tells us we don’t need an investigative subcommittee to decide if Cory Mills, who a Court found to be an immediate and present danger of committing dating violence against a woman, should serve on committees related to national security,” Mace wrote on X.
RELATED: House Ethics Committee Launches Formal Investigation Into Florida Rep. Cory Mills
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