By Ashley Brasfield
House Republicans failed to censure Democrat Delegate from the United States Virgin Islands Stacey Plaskett over her ties to Jeffrey Epstein in a deal to protect one of their own embattled conference colleagues, multiple House GOP members claim.
Republican Representative Ralph Norman of South Carolina introduced a resolution to censure Plaskett and remove her from her position on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence following the release of documents showing she consulted with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during official congressional business.
Several members of the House Republican conference accused Speaker Mike Johnson of cutting a deal with the Democrats to save Mills from censure, with Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna stating on X that GOP leadership “exchanged the vote to protect a Republican that’s having a lot of issues.”
The Daily Caller reached out to Johnson for comment but did not receive a response prior to publication.
🚨We are URGING Speaker Johnson to strip Rep. Cory Mills of his committee assignments.🚨
Rep. Mills’ record is tainted by allegations of stolen valor, domestic a*use, and arms deals with the U.S. government and foreign nations while serving in Congress.
This is not a man who… pic.twitter.com/bZkbpX2yOL
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) November 19, 2025
In September, Mills was central to another accusation of favor trading. Mills was one of four Republicans to vote against a resolution introduced by Republican South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace to censure Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. He was at the time facing similar threats of a retaliatory censure from House Democrats. (RELATED: Cory Mills Cuts Deal With Democrats To Save Ilhan Omar)
The Florida congressman has been entangled in a string of controversies — including sextortion allegations, claims of stolen valor, questions about his faith and an alleged conversion to Islam, and accusations of financial misconduct — all of which he has denied.
Lindsey Langston, Mills’ former girlfriend and the 2024 Miss United States winner, has filed a restraining order accusing him of threatening to release her nude videos. (RELATED: REPORT: Reigning Miss USA Files Restraining Order Against Congressman, Says He Threatened To Release Sex Videos)
Multiple former colleagues also allege that Mills exaggerated significant parts of his military record during his time in the U.S. Army and as a private military contractor, according to a Blaze report.
Speculation about Mills’ faith has also intensified despite his public embrace of a pro-Christian, America First platform. He was recently married by a radical Islamic cleric at the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Virginia — a mosque with reported ties to the Muslim Brotherhood — according to a separate Blaze report.
Mills has also faced scrutiny over alleged financial misconduct involving his stay in a luxury Washington, D.C. apartment where rent exceeded $20,800 per month. He reportedly faced possible eviction for failing to pay months of rent on the penthouse, according to independent journalist Roger Sollenberger.
Following the vote, several Republican members, including Reps. Kat Cammack of Florida, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, and Nancy Mace of South Carolina accused House Republican leadership of orchestrating the failure of the Plaskett vote in order to protect one of their own.
I am totally disgusted with this bunch of losers. pic.twitter.com/ws5EMmauCv
— Tim Burchett (@timburchett) November 19, 2025
“Tonight, a handful of Republicans took a dive on a vote to strip Stacy Plaskett of her position on House intel because of her ties to Epstein. They did it to protect a Republican facing his own ethics issues from a similar vote. This backroom deal shit is swampy, wrong and always…” Cammack tweeted.
Norman criticized those who voted against or abstained from voting for his resolution to censure Plaskett but stopped short of accusing House Republican leadership of engaging in a quid pro quo.
“Last night’s vote was about Members who chose to either side with Democrats or avoid taking a stand by voting ‘present.’ When accountability becomes optional, the House loses its credibility. I censured Del. Stacey Plaskett because serious concerns demand action, not fear of retaliation or political calculation,” Norman said.
In October, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene accused House Speaker Mike Johnson of hypocrisy over his handling of Mills, according to an Axios report.
In the interview with the outlet, Greene said, “They expelled George Santos, Mike Johnson did. He was speaker and oversaw Santos being expelled. Why isn’t he doing anything about Cory Mills?”
Mace introduced a resolution Wednesday to censure and remove Mills from the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees. House GOP leadership must bring it to a vote by Friday. (RELATED: Embattled House Republican Faces House Censure From Nancy Mace)
With the 2026 election approaching, the GOP currently holds the House by just five seats and faces two vacancies, including the seat formerly held by Republican Tennessee Rep. Mark Green, increasing pressure to maintain their majority.
In addition, Florida lawmakers are set to begin a mid-decade congressional redistricting next month, with the Florida House Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting holding its first meeting on December 4. Despite the changes, Mills’ home district remains a GOP stronghold, as he won his last election by nearly 13 points.
The Tampa Bay Young Republicans Executive Director Jake Hoffman emphasized the upcoming redistricting in the state and suggested it could be influencing GOP members’ votes against the Plaskett censure resolution.
“The GOP is looking at 2026 and retaining the House, and that includes redistricting, potentially in Florida. They’ve got a meeting on Dec. 4th coming up to start the process. So there’s a very good chance that Corey Mills isn’t in his congressional seat come November, and everything in between is, you know, congressional swamp protecting at its finest,” Hoffman told the Caller.
The Caller reached out to Cammack, Luna, Burchett, Norman and Greene for comment but did not receive a response prior to publication.
