Republicans are quietly sounding alarms in Washington D.C. as Rep. Cory Mills of Florida faces several accusations, including assaulting an ex-girlfriend in his Washington apartment, benefiting from federal contracts while in office and threatening another ex with releasing intimate explicit videos.
The latest accusation came to light this week, after a beauty pageant titleholder filed a report in Florida accusing him of threatening to release nude videos and private images of her after she ended their romantic relations. Mills denied the accusations.
"These claims are false and misrepresent the nature of my interactions," Mills said in a statement. "I have always conducted myself with integrity, both personally and in service to Florida's 7th District."
In another passage of his statement, Mills said the allegations were being pushed by a former political opponent, Lake County commissioner Anthony Sabatini, who ran against him in the 2022 GOP primary for the House seat.
"Anthony Sabatini is weaponizing the legal system to launch a political attack against the man who beat him in the primary, using his corporate legal office to push a narrative built on lies and flawed legal arguments— all to score political headlines," Mills said.
In response, GOP leaders in the House and in the Sunshine state are betting that the controversies that have plagued him will not ultimately blow back to the party, as well as their dwindling hold on power, according to Politico.
President Donald Trump won Mills' district by 12 points last year, and Mills himself won reelection by a slightly higher margin. Because national party operatives view his seat as safe, there is little incentive for GOP leaders to engage as the accusations swirl.
Nevertheless, other GOP members see the recent headlines as a potential political mess in the making. House Democrats recently put his seat on their list of "Districts in Play" for the midterms despite the bearish 2024 results. Also, at least three Democrats have already announced they plan to challenge him.
"Floridians deserve leaders who protect people, not threaten them," said Noah Widmann, one of the three. "Cory Mills is unfit to serve."
Some of Mills' GOP colleagues are also wondering if they should start looking for another candidate to back in the district, according to three Republicans who spoke to Political and were granted anonymity to describe private talks.
"What if he is arrested for real?" said one of the three, a member of the House.
Another House Republican, also granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter, said other controversies— including an allegation of unpaid rent that Mills dismissed last month as a misunderstanding with building management— have also surprised lawmakers.
No charges have been filed against Mills yet. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Wednesday that it doesn't comment on any active inquiries or investigations. The lawmakers also said he would not comment further on his slew of controversies.
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