Democrats force vote to kick Cory Mills off Armed Services Committee in heated showdown
WASHINGTON, DC: House Democrats moved on Tuesday, November 18, to force a vote on a revived censure resolution against Rep Cory Mills, escalating an ongoing tit-for-tat battle over punishments and committee seats in a bitterly divided Congress.
The resolution, introduced by Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke (D-NY), aims not only to censure Mills but also to remove him from the influential House Armed Services Committee.
Democrats use Cory Mills censure tactic to stall GOP efforts again
This marks the third time Democrats have relied on a Mills-focused measure to counter Republican attempts to censure one of their own. Each time, the strategy has stalled GOP efforts, and Democrats believe it may work again.
Clarke originally introduced the censure in September after Republicans moved to punish Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) over a confrontation with ICE officers.
Rep Ilhan Omar (D-MN) walks to the House chambers ahead of today's planned vote for Speaker of the House in the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol on October 17, 2023 in Washington, DC (Getty Images)Later that month, Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar (D-Texas) forced a vote on the same measure to block a Republican push to censure Rep Ilhan Omar (D-Minn) for comments she made about Charlie Kirk’s killing. That GOP effort collapsed after Mills himself cast the decisive vote to sink it, when Axios revealed Casar would withdraw his measure if the Omar vote failed.
Democrats file new censure after GOP targets Stacey Plaskett
Clarke reintroduced a sharpened, five-page version of her resolution just hours after Republicans advanced a separate effort to censure Del Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) and remove her from the Intelligence Committee.
The GOP case centers on Plaskett’s 2019 text messages with Jeffrey Epstein during a congressional hearing. The Washington Post reported that Epstein even suggested questions, some of which closely resembled those Plaskett later posed to witness Michael Cohen.
Plaskett’s office has acknowledged the messages but insists she committed no wrongdoing, arguing that Epstein was a constituent at the time.
Democrats attempted to refer the Plaskett matter to the Ethics Committee, but the referral failed in a razor-thin 213–214 vote, with two Republicans backing Democrats and triggering a mandatory floor vote on the GOP’s censure.
The updated Democratic resolution alleges that Mills “has on several occasions conducted himself in a manner that reflects discredit upon the House of Representatives,” citing a list of accusations including domestic abuse, stolen valor, and financial misconduct.
Mills has denied all the allegations.
Nancy Mace breaks ranks to support Cory Mills censure
In a striking twist, Rep Nancy Mace (R-SC) publicly announced her support for the Mills censure.
“Sign me up. Is this for Stolen Valor or alleged assault of women or restraining order or something else?” Mace wrote on X, taking direct aim at the Florida Republican. Her stance injects new volatility into the vote count.
The GOP controls the House by just 219–214, meaning only a few Republican defections could hand Democrats a rare procedural win and strip Mills of his Armed Services seat. A spokesperson for Mills did not respond to requests for comment.
Congress braces for another chaotic showdown
The revived resolution is expected to be debated and voted on Tuesday night, setting up yet another high-stakes confrontation that underscores how censures, once rare, have become one of the most potent political weapons in the modern House.
For both sides, the Mills vote is not just about misconduct allegations or committee assignments. It is now a test of leverage, loyalty, and control of the narrative in a chamber where the majority keeps shrinking and the grudges keep growing.
