The House Ethics Committee has initiated a formal investigation into Representative Cory Mills following a slew of accusations against the Florida Republican. This development came hours before a scheduled House vote on whether to censure Mills.

A new investigative subcommittee has been formed by the bipartisan Ethics panel, tasked with examining allegations that Mills may have violated House rules, laws, or other standards. Among the accusations are possible violations of campaign finance rules, engagement in sexual misconduct or dating violence, misuse of his position, or House resources.

As these inquiries intensify, a spokesperson for Mills did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In addition to the charges under Ethics Committee scrutiny, Mills faces external allegations including stolen valor, profiting from federal contracts while in office, and a prior accusation of assault by an ex-girlfriend—claims she later recanted, with no charges filed against Mills. More recently, another ex-girlfriend claimed that Mills threatened to release explicit videos of her, leading a Florida judge to issue a restraining order against him last month.

The scope of the Ethics Committee's investigation also includes whether Mills failed to disclose required information on official statements, improperly solicited or received gifts, or received special favors due to his position. This follows a referral from the now-defunct Office of Congressional Ethics, which suggested there was “substantial reason to believe” Mills might have breached several ethical standards.

On the same day, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) introduced a resolution to censure Mills and strip him of his committee assignments. While Republican leaders are inclined to refer the matter back to the Ethics Committee, potentially stalling it on the House floor, the disclosure of the investigative steps might shield GOP members from pressure to act against Mills immediately.

The ongoing controversy surrounding Mills poses a significant challenge for House GOP leadership. Speaker Mike Johnson, when asked about the restraining order against Mills, admitted to not being fully briefed on the matter, citing his busy schedule but expressed trust in the Ethics Committee's process.

As the investigation unfolds, the implications for Rep. Mills and the broader political landscape remain uncertain, highlighting the complex and often contentious nature of political ethics in Washington.

Contributions to this report were made by Nicholas Wu and Meredith Lee Hill.