Corey Mills Rejects Swalwell, Gonzales Comparison Amid Ethics Probe
corey mills rejected comparisons between his own scandals and the resignations of Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales, telling a reporter in the House, "I don’t even fall into the category of Swalwell and Gonzalez." He said he should not be grouped with lawmakers facing separate scandals while he remains under House Ethics scrutiny.
"One, I’m not married, so there’s one thing," Mills said. He added, "Two, I’ve never sexually harassed and or had any complaints by any staffers or interns on the Hill," and called the comparison "not even a fair comparison."
Mills and House Ethics
Mills also described the pressure around him as "a political Democrat tit for tat." The House Ethics investigation into him covers domestic matters involving Sarah Raviani and Lindsey Langston, along with allegations that he profited from defense contracts in Congress and exaggerated his military service.
Metropolitan Police investigated an allegation last year that Mills was involved in a domestic altercation with Raviani in a Washington apartment they shared at the time. Raviani later chose not to press charges. Langston said she was living with Mills in New Smyrna Beach and broke up with him after learning of Raviani.
Raviani, Langston and Resignations
Langston later said Mills threatened to distribute intimate photos and videos, and a judge issued a restraining order against him. Mills was married during both instances but said he was legally separated, and his divorce was finalized earlier this year.
The resignations of Swalwell and Gonzales have sharpened the comparison Mills is trying to avoid. Swalwell resigned amid accusations of sexual harassment and sexual assault from staffers, while Gonzales faced questions for months about an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. Gonzales had already said he would resign before stepping down after Swalwell announced his departure on Monday evening.
Republican Pressure
After those exits, Anna Paulina Luna moved to file expulsion resolutions on Swalwell and Gonzales. Republicans have also pressed Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick to resign after a House Ethics panel found her guilty of 25 charges, most of them tied to accusations that she siphoned more than $5 million from disaster relief funding through a health care business to her congressional campaign.
Republicans hold a 217-213 margin after the Gonzales and Swalwell departures, and both parties have faced criticism for reluctance to force members out amid scandals. Mills remains in office while the House Ethics investigation continues to hang over his case, leaving him exposed to the same resignation debate he says does not fit him.
