House Refers Nancy Mace’s Censure Complaint Against Rep. Cory Mills to Ethics Committee; Investigative Subcommittee Launched

The House voted 310-103 on Wednesday to refer Republican Rep. Nancy Mace’s censure complaint against fellow Republican Rep. Cory Mills to the House Ethics Committee, rejecting an effort to immediately remove him from his committee assignments.

Mills himself moved to send the matter to the Ethics Committee, and the committee separately announced it has created an investigative subcommittee to examine multiple allegations against him.

What Mace requested

Mace had sought a formal censure of Mills and his removal from the House Armed Services and House Foreign Affairs committees, citing several controversies. Seven House Republicans—Marjorie Taylor Greene, Anna Paulina Luna, Lauren Boebert, Harriet Hageman, Tim Burchett, Kat Cammack and Joe Wilson—joined Mace in advancing the measure, though the House did not immediately strip Mills of his panel assignments.

Allegations and ethics findings

The text of Mace’s resolution outlines several allegations and findings:

• Accounts from people who served with Mills in the Army that dispute portions of his reported service record, including the circumstances that led to a recommendation for the Bronze Star;
• An allegation of assault and accusations from an ex-girlfriend that Mills threatened to release sexually explicit images and videos; a judge has issued an order restricting Mills from contacting that woman. Mills has denied wrongdoing in both matters;
• Findings from the Office of Congressional Ethics that raise concerns Mills may have entered into or held contracts with federal agencies while serving in Congress, omitted required information from financial disclosures, and accepted excessive campaign contributions.

Mace said: "These allegations are far too serious to ignore. A member accused of assaulting women, profiting from federal contracts while in office, and inflating or falsifying his service record should not serve on national-security committees."

Mills responded publicly that there was no backroom deal related to a separate Democratic censure effort that was withdrawn and that he and his team were surprised by that development. He has denied any wrongdoing in the matters cited.

Next steps

The Ethics Committee’s investigative subcommittee will review the evidence and determine whether further action, including a full committee investigation or recommendations to the full House, is warranted. Any formal disciplinary action would follow that review and additional committee procedures.