The Republicans have a small majority in the U.S. House. That’s why this news is massive.
Because a U.S. House Rep. was just blindsided by a career-ending investigation.
House Ethics Committee Launches Probe into Rep. Cory Mills Over Alleged Financial Misconduct
In a significant move marking the start of the new Congress, the House Ethics Committee revealed on Thursday that it will dive deeper into allegations swirling around Rep. Cory Mills. The Florida Republican faces scrutiny over possible financial improprieties that could breach federal law, setting the stage for a contentious investigation.
The decision stems from a referral issued in August 2024 by the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC), an independent body tasked with examining misconduct claims against House members. The OCC’s findings suggest Mills may have either failed to disclose or misrepresented details in his financial reports. More troubling, the report points to potential conflicts involving federal contracts tied to companies he owns.
Federal law explicitly prohibits members of Congress from personally profiting off government contracts. The OCC flagged Mills’s businesses, which produce munitions supplied to federal law enforcement agencies, as a key area needing closer examination. This overlap between his private interests and public office lies at the heart of the allegations.
The OCC report, made public by the Ethics Committee on Thursday, doesn’t mince words. “There is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Mills may have entered into, held, or enjoyed contracts with federal agencies while he was a Member of Congress,” it states. Such a violation, if proven, could carry serious consequences for the lawmaker.
Adding fuel to the fire, Mills reportedly stonewalled the OCC’s investigation. According to the report, he declined to cooperate with investigators, a move that hampered their efforts. The document notes that witnesses, often represented by Mills’s own attorney, were also less than forthcoming, further complicating the probe.
“This concerted effort to limit [the office’s] access to relevant information, often from witnesses also represented by Rep. Mills’s attorney, undermined these investigative efforts,” the OCC report explains. Mills’s refusal to engage has now shifted the burden to the Ethics Committee to untangle the mess.
That committee, which only formalized its structure this week, is chaired once again by Rep. Michael Guest, a Mississippi Republican. California Rep. Mark DeSaulnier steps in as the ranking Democrat, leading the minority side of the panel. With its slow start, the group is already under pressure to prove it can handle high-stakes cases like this one.
The Ethics Committee has a reputation for operating behind closed doors, but it’s no stranger to drama. Late last year, it found itself at the center of a firestorm over its handling of an investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz. The Florida Republican resigned in November, briefly flirted with a nomination as U.S. attorney general under President Donald Trump, and then bowed out amid controversy.
The Gaetz saga reached a boiling point when the committee, after resisting leaks and Democratic pressure, released a damning report. It cited “substantial evidence” that Gaetz had solicited prostitutes, used illegal drugs, and possibly violated Florida’s statutory rape laws. The Mills case now offers the panel a fresh test of its mettle.
This year’s Ethics Committee features a mix of new and returning faces. Fresh additions include Reps. Ashley Hinson of Iowa and Nathaniel Moran of Texas on the Republican side, alongside Democrats Sylvia R. Garcia of Texas and Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia. Veterans like Reps. John Rutherford of Florida, Andrew Garbarino of New York, Glenn F. Ivey of Maryland, and Deborah K. Ross of North Carolina round out the roster.
For now, the committee’s announcement on Mills signals intent rather than a verdict. It’s merely taking up the matter, not declaring guilt. Still, the stakes are high for Mills, who’s already weathering public attention for other reasons, including an alleged assault in February at a Washington, D.C., residence. Though not arrested, the incident prompted the Metropolitan Police Department to reassess its response.
Mills’s legal team has pushed back against the allegations. In a letter to the Ethics Committee, attorney Charlie Spies pointed to a September 2024 decision by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The FEC dismissed campaign finance complaints against Mills, finding them baseless. “There is overlap between such false allegations and what appears to have been the subject of OCE’s investigation,” Spies wrote, using the OCC’s former name. “The FEC found insufficient substantiation to support the allegations and officially concluded its inquiry.”
As the Ethics Committee digs into this latest case, Mills’s political future hangs in the balance. The investigation’s outcome could either clear his name or cement a legacy of scandal, all while testing the panel’s ability to navigate another thorny chapter in congressional oversight.
The Federalist Wire will update you on any further updates on this investigation.
