Rep. Cory Mills doubled down Tuesday on his refusal to step down from his House seat, brushing aside mounting pressure from fellow lawmakers and a bipartisan ethics investigation into sexual misconduct and campaign finance allegations.
Speaking to reporters at the Capitol, the Florida Republican issued a stark challenge to critics. "If someone can give me a good reason, I'd be more than happy to listen to it," Mills said. "But until we can do that, absolutely not, no. I don't plan to resign. We're going to seek re-election."
Mills said he is cooperating fully with the House Ethics Committee probe that began in November, submitting requested documents and responding to inquiries. He expressed uncertainty about the investigation's timeline, noting he has no indication of when the panel might conclude its work.
"Anything they've asked of us, we've complied," Mills told reporters. "Why not let the investigating body and the Ethics Committee do their jobs? And so we comply. We're very happy to see what the outcome is."
The committee is examining allegations of sexual misconduct and dating violence against Mills, along with potential campaign finance violations. Mills has denied all wrongdoing.
Not everyone shares Mills' patience with the ethics process. GOP Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina introduced a resolution Monday calling for Mills' expulsion from Congress, framing the case as a sign of institutional rot. "The swamp has protected Cory Mills for far too long and we are done letting it slide," Mace said in announcing the measure.
The push for Mills' ouster comes as other House members facing similar investigations have chosen the exit route. Three lawmakers resigned from their seats over the past week, all apparently seeking to avoid potential expulsion votes.
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Florida Democrat, resigned Tuesday just before the Ethics Committee announced recommended sanctions that could have included expulsion. She was indicted on charges of stealing millions in federal relief funds and using some of the money to finance her congressional campaign. The ethics panel had already found her guilty of 25 violations. She has pleaded not guilty in her criminal case and denied wrongdoing.
Former Reps. Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales departed their seats the same day last week. Swalwell, a California Democrat, resigned as allegations of sexual assault and misconduct surfaced just days before he was set to announce his gubernatorial campaign. He has denied the claims.
Gonzales, a Texas Republican, admitted to a romantic relationship with a former staffer who later died by suicide. NBC News reported that a second woman who worked for Gonzales said he sent her explicit texts. His office did not respond to those allegations. House rules prohibit lawmakers from having romantic relationships with staffers.
The departures underscore a broader reckoning on Capitol Hill over ethics complaints. Mace herself is under ethics investigation for allegedly overcharging Congress for housing costs. Her office told Politico last month that she was "not taking seriously" the complaint against her.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Mills is betting that defiance and delay can outlast the ethics process, but the exodus of three colleagues in a week suggests the political pressure only intensifies the longer you stay."
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