Two Congressmen Resign Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations, One Remains in Office

In an unprecedented wave of congressional resignations this week, Republican Tony Gonzales of Texas and Democrat Eric Swalwell of California both stepped down amid misconduct allegations involving women. However, one lawmaker facing similar accusations, Republican Cory Mills of Florida, continues to hold his position despite mounting pressure and a staggering array of scandals.

Mills, who represents Florida’s 7th district, faces accusations that far exceed those of his recently departed colleagues. According to extensive documentation, Mills allegedly hired sex workers during overseas “rescue missions,” physically assaulted someone in Ireland while serving as a congressman, fabricated military achievements to earn a Bronze Star, and threatened to release sexually explicit content of a former girlfriend.

In October, a Florida judge imposed a temporary restraining order against Mills after determining he had subjected his ex-girlfriend, Lindsey Langston, to “dating violence” through cyberstalking. Court records reveal Mills sent numerous threatening messages to Langston after their breakup in early 2025, including ominous texts implying he would harm men she dated and suggestions he might release intimate videos of her.

“Please help me. Someone please help me,” Langston pleaded tearfully during one of two court hearings in September. “Because I don’t know what to do and I’m scared.”

Judge Fred Koberlein Jr. ruled that Mills’ testimony during these proceedings was not “truthful,” particularly regarding explicit material recorded during his relationship with Langston. Mills had also falsely claimed during the hearings that no divorce proceedings had been filed related to his second marriage, despite Langston’s attorney holding the relevant paperwork.

Calls for Mills’ resignation are gaining momentum across party lines. Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez remarked earlier this week, “I’m glad that Eric Swalwell is leaving. I’m glad that Tony Gonzales is leaving. Frankly, I think Cory Mills should probably be on that list as well.” Representative Susie Lee, another Democrat, stated bluntly, “He should be expelled.”

Mills has attempted to defend himself by drawing distinctions between his situation and those of Gonzales and Swalwell, noting that he is not married and has not been accused of harassing congressional staff members. He characterized the restraining order as resulting from “essentially just something where it was a bad breakup,” a characterization that starkly contradicts Judge Koberlein’s formal findings.

The congressman also faces serious questions about his military record. Former colleagues who worked with Mills as private military contractors have disputed his claims of being an Army Ranger, Army sniper, and Special Forces qualified medic—credentials not supported by his official Army records. One former subordinate described Mills as a “pathological liar,” adding, “I wouldn’t piss on him if he was on fire.”

Army documents released this year reveal that Mills received his Bronze Star in June 2024—more than two decades after the events in Iraq that supposedly warranted the decoration. The recommendation form stated Mills saved three men’s lives during battles in 2003, but Joe Heit, one of those men, told reporters he has no memory of ever meeting Mills and did not sustain life-threatening injuries during the incident in question. Another veteran has provided a sworn statement calling the claims about him on Mills’ Bronze Star recommendation “false and a fabrication.”

Meanwhile, House Republicans appear more focused on potentially removing Democratic Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who faces federal indictment for allegedly misappropriating FEMA funding. Speaker Mike Johnson indicated Tuesday that he believes House members will vote to expel the Florida Democrat.

Mills’ business dealings have also raised eyebrows. Pacem Defense, an international arms dealer closely connected to a company Mills co-founded before entering Congress, is reportedly so financially distressed it has failed to pay both legal bills and an $8 million court-ordered payment to another company. Court filings show that despite this financial turmoil, a Pacem entity paid $12,000 monthly rent to another company wholly owned by Mills, even as many Pacem employees were furloughed.

Though Mills claims his business interests are now in a “blind trust,” his own financial disclosures specify the exact percentages he continues to own in these companies. Kedric Payne of the Campaign Legal Center has noted, “If you can see what your holdings are, it is not a blind trust.”

The House Ethics Committee is currently investigating Mills, though the timeline for completing this inquiry remains unclear. Congressional leaders from both parties have indicated they may wait for the investigation’s findings before determining whether to pursue expulsion proceedings.