Multiple news reports citing unnamed “sources familiar with the matter” say U.S. Rep. Cory Mills is now facing a Department of Justice probe into his finances.
The outlets include MS NOW, ABC News, and the conservative Washington Examiner.
Mills, a two-term Republican who represents southern Volusia and all of Seminole counties in Florida’s 7th District, has been the subject of a specially appointed House ethics investigation that has not yet concluded. Voters are weighing him against three other Republicans in the Aug. 18 primary, while three Democrats are also lying in wait for the November election.
Despite multiple allegations, including a no-contact order obtained by an ex-girlfriend against Mills in Florida, and House inquiries into Mills’ income, financial disclosures, and campaign finances starting as far back as August 2024, President Donald Trump endorsed Mills on Feb. 10.
Mills is dismissing the reports as “fake news,” while one of his Republican primary opponents is calling on him to exit the race.
Here’s a look at what we know about the reported probe into the 46-year-old congressman.
Why is Mills reportedly facing another investigation?
Short answer: We don’t precisely know.
MS NOW, which first reported the story citing two unnamed sources, also reported that a third anonymous source said the FBI had contacted “at least one person … about Mills’ finances, allegations of misconduct and individuals in his orbit.”
ABC and the Washington Examiner also mentioned Mills’ finances as at least part of the investigation.
The Department of Justice responded to an after-hours News-Journal inquiry on July 21 with a message suggesting it will reply during business hours on July 22. However, the Justice Department has rules against commenting on investigations before charges are filed.
Leaking an investigation through anonymous sources isn’t unprecedented, but raises questions about why “sources familiar” with the activities of the Trump DOJ would do so while an election involving a Trump-endorsed candidate is underway.
What are some of the allegations against Cory Mills?
In August 2024, the Office of Congressional Ethics compiled an 81-page report detailing numerous potential law violations, including omitting or misrepresenting information in his financial disclosure statements and accepting excessive contributions in the form of personal loans. The report stated Mills did not cooperate.
The House Ethics Committee started reviewing the matter in March 2025.
In November of that year, after Rep. Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican brought to the House floor a measure of censure against Mills, the House Ethics Committee announced it would appoint a special panel to focus solely on allegations against Mills, including:
The original Office of Congressional Ethics report noted that Mills owned a company that had contracted to make munitions and weapons for the government for nearly $1 million.
“According to its website, Pacem Solutions (owned by Mills) is currently registered and/or partnered with trusted local firms to work in the following countries: United States, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, UAE, Australia, Kenya, Malaysia and Kuwait,” the report notes. “Public reports also indicate Mr. Mills has either sought or entered into contracts to sell munitions to foreign nations, including Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and Colombia. This represents a clear conflict of interest, given that he serves on the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs.”
Mills has denied wrongdoing.
What is Mills saying about the reports?
In response to a News-Journal question on X, Mills suggested believing the news reports without knowing the sources is “making an obviously incorrect assumption.”
Might anonymous Department of Justice sources be working to get Mills defeated, or laying the groundwork for Trump to rescind his endorsement of Mills?
“No, I’m not concerned (about) losing POTUS endorsement, and yes, I think any outlet who can’t even get the DoJ who they claim is investigating to confirm before reporting fake news.”
Mills posted on X on July 21: “Imagine how desperate fake news must be to make a claim of DoJ investigation when even the DoJ has not confirmed or made official statements of such an investigation existing. The fake news ‘anonymous source’ political witch hunts are pathetic.”
Below an X post by Bale Dalton, a Democratic rival, Mills responded just before midnight July 21: “It must be difficult being so unconstitutional and ignorant of media. DOJ has never confirmed any investigation, nor has FBI. It’s typical Hitpiece ‘a source’ fake media nonsense.”
Responses from Mills’ opponents: Time to leave
Ryan Elijah, a Republican whose campaign has built steam in recent weeks, called on Mills to exit the campaign, and told The News-Journal: “While Congressman Mills deserves his due process, it was time for me to step up and say the negative headlines surrounding the district must stop. Volusia and Seminole County residents deserve better.
Elijah, a former news anchor on Fox 35 Orlando, is a Sanford resident who lost in a 2010 special Republican caucus in Indiana’s 3rd Congressional District to Rep. Marlin Stutzman.
This week, Elijah claimed the endorsements of Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood and state Sen. Tom Wright, a New Smyrna Beach Republican.
Elijah has outraised Mills and the other two GOP candidates, Sarah Ulrich and Michael Johnson, since jumping into the campaign in late April. FEC records show he has raised more than $300,000 in less than three months, while Mills’ campaign brought in $134,000 during the first six months of 2026.
Ulrich said in a text to The News-Journal: “Cory spends other people’s money without reserve and does not appear to know how to make his own without using his position. I would not trust him to know how to run a lemonade stand, much less balance or reduce our federal spending.”
Johnson said simply: “I’m not surprised.”
− Mark Harper covers politics, government, and education for The News-Journal, with a focus on Florida, mostly in Volusia County. He can be reached at mark.harper@news-jrnl.com.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Cory Mills dismisses reports DOJ investigation as ‘fake news’
Reporting by Mark Harper, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mark Harper, Daytona Beach News-Journal | USA TODAY Network
