For quite some time, we’ve been wondering: Exactly what will it take to get GOP leaders in the U.S. House to do something about Cory Mills?
This week may have finally produced an answer. But most of you — particularly our large local continent of rational Republicans — aren’t going to like it.
Crossing the wrong colleague
Because it wasn’t the questions from military leaders and veteran’s groups about potential misrepresentation of the New Smyrna Beach Republican’s military record that are sparking the ire of some Congressional colleagues. Nor was it the House Ethics Committee inquiry about Mills’ business dealings, which includes questions about nearly $2 million in loans he made to his Congressional campaign that don’t really match up with his reported income and spending, and includes questions about how candid he was in required financial disclosures.
It certainly wasn’t the lawsuit filed against him, seeking to evict him from a Washington D.C. penthouse for unpaid rent. Nor was it the 911 call in February 2025 from a woman who told police that Mills — her “significant other” — had assaulted her. That woman later withdrew her accusations — but not before Mills’ other significant other, who said in court documents that she’d been in a relationship with the congressman since 2021, found out and broke up with Mills. That sparked threats to physically harm any future romantic partners and to release nude videos of her, according to 25-year-old Lindsey Langston, who is the reigning winner of the Miss United States pageant title. Langston petitioned for an order of protection against Mills, a request that is still under consideration after a hearing Friday.
This ever-roiling pit of scandals has drawn a deafening silence from Mills’ GOP colleagues.
One blasted vote
But this week, one of them was finally riled up: U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina. Mace wanted to censure Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar and yank some of her committee assignments over comments she claims Omar made about murdered Republican activist Charlie Kirk. Her attempt failed by one crucial vote — and Mills was one of the four Republicans voting “no” on Omar’s censure. That the vote was so close was surprising, since Mace produced no evidence that Omar said what Mace claimed she had.
In her fury, Mace seemed to say the quiet part out loud about the questions about Mills’ military service. “This guy has been parading himself around as some sort of U.S. Army special ops covert Ranger sniper James Bond 007 elite commando for years and it’s not even remotely close,” she wrote on social media platform X. “He was an ambulance driver mainly in the motor pool.” Later she added “Total Stolen Valor. And this guy sits on the House Armed Service committee?”
So, yeah. She knew.
We have to wonder: Where was all this simmering outrage when Mills’ military record was questioned in 2022 and then again in 2024? During the runup to that election, three high-ranking retired military officers told the Sentinel that there were serious discrepancies in Mills’ military records and his own accounts of his heroic service. We weren’t the only outlet reporting that news, either.
And why didn’t Mace take up the cause when the Ethics Committee filed its report of charges earlier this year? Or call for action when Mills was accused of menacing not one, but two women in the space of a few months? Neither of whom was his wife. Yes, he had a wife — may still be married, in fact.
(We’ve often noticed that hypocrisy breeds hypocrisy. Responding to Mace’s barrage, Mills attributed his vote to support for the First Amendment. “At the end of the day, I’m a constitutionalist,” said the man who once made a video boasting about manufacturing weapons used on Black Lives Matter protestors and cheerfully suggesting that he tear-gas journalists.)
Big questions waiting
We’re not here to bash Nancy Mace. But if she knew about Mills’ questionable past, then it’s a fair assumption that most other Republicans do, as well. Yet state election records show that Mills (who has yet to file to run) appears to be unopposed by any of his fellow Republicans — for a primary that’s less than a year away.
This seems insane to us. Though it’s moving at a glacial pace, it’s certainly conceivable that the Ethics Committee could untangle Mills’ personal and campaign finances enough to know if he broke the law. And even if that investigation fizzles, there is the sworn testimony and potential court sanction over his rocky romantic relationships. In short, there is plenty already on the record to raise questions about his fitness to serve as a member of Congress. At this point, it seems safe to assume that nobody would be surprised to see yet another scandal erupt.
But what does that mean for the residents of District 7? Surely, they deserve better, more honorable and more respectful representation. By balking on taking final action against Mills — which should include the question of whether he should be formally expelled from the House — Florida’s Republican leadership is depriving area voters of the right to a better candidate, one who knows this area and understands the issues facing local residents in a way that Mills does not.
This has dragged on long enough. If Florida Republicans can’t see that, maybe they deserve to lose this district to Democrats.
The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Krys Fluker, Executive Editor Roger Simmons and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. Contact us at insight@orlandosentinel.com
