Major Congressional Ethics Probe Launched
The House Ethics Committee has initiated a sweeping investigation into Republican Representative Cory Mills of Florida. The announcement, made on Wednesday 19 November 2025, confirms the panel will examine a series of serious allegations against the congressman, who is currently serving his second term.
Scope of the Investigation and Legal Order
The investigative subcommittee will conduct a wide-ranging probe into whether Representative Mills violated campaign finance laws during his two congressional campaigns. The inquiry will also scrutinise if he misused congressional resources, failed to properly disclose required financial information to the House, and improperly solicited or received gifts connected to privately sponsored official travel.
Furthermore, the committee is examining allegations of sexual misconduct or dating violence. This follows a significant development from last month, where a Florida judge issued a protective order against Mills concerning his ex-girlfriend. The judge mandated that Mills must have no contact with the woman and cannot go within 500 feet of her residence or workplace. He is also prohibited from referring to her on social media.
The court order is in effect through the end of the year, and the judge explicitly stated he had concluded the woman was either a victim of dating violence or in immediate danger of becoming one. Any violation of this order can result in a fine or imprisonment.
Political Repercussions and Censure Motion
The ethics announcement was swiftly followed by political action. Also on Wednesday, Republican Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina introduced a censure resolution against Mills. This resolution seeks to remove him from his positions on the influential House Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
In her address to the House, Mace outlined a series of controversies surrounding Mills, asserting that his behaviour “brings discredit upon the House.” She referenced allegations that Mills misrepresented aspects of his Army service and the circumstances of the protective order.
Mace characterised the Ethics Committee's decision to open an investigation as a “naked attempt to kill my resolution.” She argued that common sense should prevail, stating, “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.” Her censure resolution will force a vote in the coming days.
The Ethics Committee has emphasised that the formation of an investigative subcommittee does not in itself indicate that any violation has occurred. At the time of the announcement, Mills' press office had not responded to a request for comment.
