The political career of U.S. Representative Cory Mills, a Republican from New Smyrna Beach, is facing serious scrutiny following allegations made by Lindsey Langston, the reigning Miss United States.
Langston has accused Mills of threatening to release intimate images of her after their relationship ended.
In July, Langston contacted the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, detailing the threats she received from Mills. The 25-year-old, who is also a Republican State Committeewoman in Columbia County, reported that she had previously lived with Mills at his home.
The two had ended their relationship earlier in the year amid controversy surrounding Mills, specifically an allegation of assault made by another woman, Sarah Raviani, in February. Raviani alleged that Mills used force against her in a shared apartment in Washington, D.C., though she later withdrew her accusation and no criminal charges were filed.
According to the incident report, Langston confronted Mills about Raviani’s allegations, but he dismissed them, claiming the media had fabricated the story.
After their breakup, Langston claims Mills began making threatening calls and sending messages in which he indicated he would release nude photos and videos of them together. Langston explained that, due to Mills’ frequent absence from their shared home, their communication included sharing intimate images.
Mills allegedly issued threats to Langston regarding other men she may be seeing, expressing anger and jealousy over her dating life.
In her communications with the police, she shared text messages and Instagram exchanges that showcase Mills’ menacing stance. One notable message from Mills on June 12 referenced rumors about Langston’s potential new relationship, stating, “Get me his number and I can send him videos. Take care.”
In another exchange, Mills expressed discontent with Langston’s treatment of their relationship, saying, “I’m sorry to see this is how you treat things. Good luck to you. Thanks for the videos.” Langston’s emotional response indicated ongoing distress, as she replied, “Haven’t you hurt me enough?”
Mills sent a string of messages that seemed coercive, urging Langston to share her new romantic partner’s information, including a threatening note about sending intimate videos to the man.
These alarming allegations raise significant concerns over Mills’ suitability to remain in political office, especially as they come amid multiple controversies.
The situation escalated with Langston’s attorney, Anthony Sabatini, announcing that Langston is pursuing a restraining order against Mills. Sabatini gained media attention after sharing some of the threatening text messages allegedly sent by Mills, which further heightens the public’s interest in the case.
Sabatini had previously run for Congress in 2022 and lost to Mills in a closely contested Republican primary, adding another layer to the dynamics between the parties.
Langston has expressed concern that the investigation into Mills’ conduct may potentially mirror the past police investigation surrounding Raviani’s claims of assault, stating, “My biggest fear is that this investigation will mirror the Washington D.C. investigation of the February altercation.
I do not question local and state law enforcement’s ability to handle this investigation, but I am concerned that because he is an elected official and public figure this will be put off — putting me at risk. I worry that I am simply poking the bear.”
Following the report of the allegations to the sheriff’s office, the case was handed to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for further examination, deemed necessary because of its sensitive nature and the parties involved.
Sergeant Steven Khachigan, a spokesperson for the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, acknowledged that their department has been inundated with inquiries since the initial allegations were made public. He indicated that they believed the investigation warranted review by the FDLE.
The FDLE confirmed that they received the report but, as is typical for ongoing investigations, they refrained from commenting further.
Internal discussions among Republican political circles reflect a growing concern regarding Mills, who is currently one of three U.S. Representatives facing targeted opposition in the upcoming election cycle from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Florida Politics has since reached out to both Langston and Mills for statements regarding the allegations, seeking to hear from both sides as the investigation progresses.
As more information becomes available, the political implications for Mills and the ramifications from these allegations continue to unfold.
The public remains attentive to how law enforcement and political entities respond to these serious claims, given the weight of the issues at hand.
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