Republican Rift Deepens as Mace Calls for Punishment
In a dramatic escalation of internal party conflict, Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace has formally demanded that her colleague, Florida Representative Cory Mills, be stripped of his congressional responsibilities and publicly censured. The South Carolina lawmaker, who is currently campaigning in a competitive gubernatorial primary, has unleashed a torrent of social media posts detailing numerous allegations against Mills.
Mace has specifically called for Mills's removal from the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, arguing his presence there is untenable. 'When you're accused of assaulting women, profiting off federal contracts from your congressional seat, and inflating your military record, you have no business shaping America's defense policy,' Mace stated in one of more than twenty posts targeting Mills within a 24-hour period.
A Catalogue of Controversies
The allegations against Congressman Mills form a lengthy and complex list. He faces claims of domestic abuse, threats to release revenge porn, and questions over the legitimacy of his Bronze Star military award—a controversy often labelled as 'stolen valor'. Further scrutiny has fallen on his personal life, including revelations that he was married in a mosque by an individual connected to the 9/11 hijackers.
Mills has vigorously denied the majority of these claims. Regarding his marriage ceremony, he explained earlier this year that the Islamic service was a practical measure to ensure his Iraqi-born wife could safely travel to see her family. In response to Mace's accusations, his office issued a statement to the Daily Mail, characterising her actions as 'a politically motivated attempt to grab headlines and settle personal scores.' The statement added, 'The claims on my valor that she’s pushing are baseless, recycled, and already publicly disproven.'
The controversy intensified when Mace reposted a screenshot of an explicit group chat allegedly involving Mills and his 28-year-old girlfriend, Sarah Raviani. The messages, from a chat titled 'New Year's Fun', contained disturbing language. However, Raviani has since told the Daily Mail that the messages were 'doctored' and originated from an anonymous pro-Palestinian account, adding that Mills's legal team was preparing a cease-and-desist order.
Domestic Incident and Political Repercussions
Raviani was also involved in a February incident where the D.C. Metropolitan Police responded to a domestic abuse call at Mills's apartment. An initial police report obtained by NBC claimed that Mills had 'grabbed her, shoved her, and pushed her out of the door.' Mills 'vehemently denies' these allegations, and Raviani later stated that 'no assault took place.'
On Wednesday, Mace introduced a formal censure resolution against Mills. This procedure represents the most severe punishment for a sitting congressman short of expulsion. If passed, Mills would be forced to stand at the front of the House chamber while his alleged infractions are read into the congressional record. The House is required to act on the resolution within two legislative days, potentially forcing a vote by Friday.
The move has garnered some support within the GOP. Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, without naming Mills, posted that 'a republican that’s having a lot of issues and should not seek re-election.' Congresswoman Lauren Boebert was also reported to have yelled at Mills on the House floor following a failed censure attempt earlier in the week.
Compounding Mills's troubles, the House Committee on Ethics announced on Wednesday that it is opening a probe into his behaviour. While an investigation does not confirm wrongdoing, it signals deepening scrutiny. House leadership could still intervene to broker a deal and avoid a censure vote, as was done recently in a separate case involving Democrat Stacey Plaskett. It remains uncertain whether Speaker Mike Johnson would take such action to shield Mills from the escalating political storm.
