After U.S. Rep. Cory Mills helped kill a censure resolution against U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, House Democrats won't pursue a similar effort punishing the New Smyrna Beach Republican.
Mills was one of four Republicans to vote against censuring Omar, a Minnesota Democrat. U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, filed a resolution (HRes 713) that would have stripped Omar's committee assignments over controversial statements on the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The resolution was tabled on a 214-213 vote.
Nearly every other Florida Republican voted against tabling the measure. U.S. Rep. John Rutherford of Jacksonville was absent for the vote. Mills issued a statement on social media saying he could not support a censure resolution based on free speech concerns.
"We may not like or agree with what someone says, but that does not mean we should deny their protected 1A (First Amendment) Right," Mills posted on X.
Omar in an interview with Zeteo after Kirk's death criticized his rhetoric.
"There are a lot of people who are out there talking about him (Kirk) just wanting to have a civil debate," Omar said. "These people are full of shit, and it's important for us to call them out while we feel anger and sadness."
She reposted several other videos by others that called Kirk a "reprehensible human being," "adamant transphobe" and "stochastic terrorist."
But after Mace introduced her resolution to censure Omar for her comments and social media activity, U.S. Rep. Greg Cesar, a Texas Democrat who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, filed a privilege resolution to also censure Mills.
Cesar's resolution mirrored one filed earlier this month by U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke, a New York Democrat, that detailed a number of personal and professional scandals surrounding Mills. Those include legal interactions with two romantic partners and an ongoing House Ethics investigation into accusations he held defense contracts while still a member of Congress.
Clarke's resolution was directed to the House Ethics Committee. But Cesar, by filing his action as a privileged resolution, could have forced a floor vote within two legislative days similar to the one against Omar.
But sources familiar with Cesar's plans said the Congressman no longer plans to bring up the resolution on floor today, as planned.
Clarke's resolution was filed after a House resolution was filed to censure U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver for laying hands on a Homeland Security official at a migrant detention facility in New Jersey. The House also voted to table any censure of McIver, though in that instance, Mills supported moving ahead with the action.
In his social media post, Mills said the circumstances of the censure were different than the one involving Omar.
"The 7 Articles and 27 Amendments of our Constitution are not followed only when it serves your purpose," Mills posted. "Unlike with Rep McIver, whom is accused of assault and obstruction of LEO (law enforcement officers), which I supported not to table, this is a 1A issue."
Mills' Office did not answer if he spoke with Cesar about the new resolution before voting to table the censure of Omar.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), however, continued to hammer Mills for being the subject of multiple resolutions.
"Cory Mills' ever-expanding list of scandals, accusations, and allegations against him are an abject embarrassment to Congress and the people of Florida's 7th Congressional District," said DCCC spokesperson Madison Andrus.
"Mills' constituents are practically without representation as he battles legal issues and near-daily headlines, and they're ready to hold him accountable."