In an extraordinary display of intra-party warfare, Rep. Nancy Mace filed a resolution Monday to expel fellow Republican Rep. Cory Mills from Congress, citing allegations of sexual misconduct and dating violence—a move virtually unprecedented in modern congressional history.
The South Carolina Republican's action represents one of the most dramatic escalations of House GOP dysfunction, with a sitting member seeking to remove not just a colleague, but a member of her own party. Expulsion requires a two-thirds vote, meaning Mace would need massive Democratic support and significant Republican defections to succeed.
"The swamp has protected Cory Mills for far too long," Mace declared, emphasizing that previous attempts to censure him and strip committee assignments had been blocked by members of both parties. The Florida congressman faces a House Ethics Committee investigation regarding "sexual misconduct and/or dating violence" and campaign finance violations.
Mills has consistently denied all allegations. He responded on social media platform X, suggesting Mace should proceed with a formal vote—a challenge that underscores the political theater surrounding the dispute.
The backdrop includes recent legal troubles for Mills: a 2025 D.C. police investigation into alleged assault that resulted in no charges, and a Florida restraining order for "protection against dating violence" issued in October. Congressional sources told NBC News that the Ethics Committee investigation remains ongoing, though the committee has not publicly commented on the timeline.
Speaker Mike Johnson expressed clear disapproval of the expulsion effort, stating that the House Ethics Committee should handle such matters to ensure due process. His intervention highlights the precarious position House Republican leadership faces: defending a member under investigation while trying to maintain party unity and avoid the spectacle of Republicans publicly turning on each other.
