On Monday, President Donald Trump listed a spree of endorsements ahead of Florida’s Tuesday primary contest. But as Floridians head to the polls this evening, the most famous adopted Floridian has abstained from endorsing Rep. Cory Mills as he runs for re-election.
Mills has become an uncomfortable problem for Republicans. Last year, the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into allegations he violated campaign finance laws, misused congressional resources and engaged in sexual misconduct or dating violence. In October, a judge issued a restraining order against Mills that prevented him from contacting an ex-partner after he allegedly threatened to leak nude images and videos as blackmail against her.
Mills has vehemently denied all allegations against him and refused to step down. House Speaker Mike Johnson has said that the Ethics Committee investigation needs to play itself out. Some other Republicans — including Florida Rep.
Anna Paulina Luna — have said they would vote to expel Mills. Nancy Mace, an outspoken conservative and survivor of sexual assault, has accused Mills of “stolen valor” for his Bronze Star application given that people who served with Mills said they did not remember him saving their lives. The heat on Mills cranked up when Reps.
Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) resigned after sexual misconduct allegations. The allegations against Mills bubbled up again amid the allegations of domestic violence against fellow Republican Rep. Despite this, House Speaker Mike Johnson has not called for Mills – or Miller, for that matter – to resign.
Johnson argues that the Ethics Committee needs to play itself out before the House takes any action. His reasons are not entirely selfless: with a tight majority, Johnson cannot afford a single lost vote or risk losing a seat to a Democrat. And the president has defended Miller, who worked in his first administration, saying “It’s a very sad thing, I know Max, he’s a good person.” Tonight presents an opportunity for Floridians to right what many Republicans see as very wrong with Mills.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
