Florida Republican Rep. Cory Mills stated Tuesday that he is unaware of any pending House vote to expel him, despite mounting pressure from colleagues in the wake of high-profile congressional resignations over sexual misconduct allegations. Mills made the comments as the House Ethics Committee continues its probe into allegations against him, including dating violence and campaign finance violations.
Drawing a Distinction
In an interview, Mills forcefully rejected comparisons to former Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), who both resigned under threat of expulsion after facing allegations of sexual relationships with staffers. "I don't even fall into the category of Swalwell or Gonzales," Mills said. He argued his situation stemmed from a "bad break up" and criticized what he called a "guilty by accusation" atmosphere, contrasting it with the "rule of law."
The calls for Mills's resignation or expulsion have intensified following the renewed scrutiny of misconduct in Congress triggered by the Swalwell and Gonzales cases. Several lawmakers, including Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and Democratic Reps. Andre Carson (Ind.), Chris Pappas (N.H.), and Nydia Velazquez (N.Y.), have publicly urged Mills to step down.
The Ethics Investigation and Past Allegations
The House Ethics Committee's investigation into Mills remains active. Last year, the chamber sidestepped a direct censure vote proposed by Mace by referring the matter to the committee. The allegations include a restraining order obtained by a former girlfriend for harassment after their breakup. Mills, who was separated and in divorce proceedings at the time, noted, "I'm not married, so there's one thing."
In February 2025, Washington, D.C., police investigated a reported physical altercation at Mills's residence involving another woman he was dating. Both Mills and the woman later denied a physical fight occurred. Police forwarded a report to the U.S. attorney's office, but no charges were filed and the criminal investigation is closed.
Mills emphasized that his case differs fundamentally from those that led to the recent resignations. "I've never sexually harassed and or had any complaints by any staffers or interns on the Hill," he stated. "It's just not even a fair comparison. This is obviously a political democratic tit for tat." His remark references the bipartisan nature of the recent scandals, which saw both a Democrat and a Republican leave office.
Leadership's Response
When questioned about the expulsion calls, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) offered a measured response, indicating he would examine the status of the Ethics Committee's work. "With regard to Mills, I'm not sure the status of the Ethics Committee investigation. That's one of the things I'll be looking into today," Johnson told CNN.
The situation places Mills at the center of an ongoing ethics storm on Capitol Hill, even as he maintains his innocence and downplays the likelihood of expulsion. The outcome of the Ethics Committee probe will be critical, as the House has recently shown a willingness to act on its findings, with Speaker Johnson previously backing expulsion for another member following an ethics referral. For now, Mills remains defiant, framing the pressure against him as politically motivated and distinct from the misconduct that has ended other congressional careers.
