Florida Republican, alleged victim deny altercation after DC police open assault probe

Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) and the alleged victim at the center of an assault investigation by Washington's Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) are both denying that a "physical altercation" took place on Wednesday when D.C. authorities were called to the scene.

The MPD is investigating Mills, who represents Florida's 7th Congressional District, after they were called to a Maryland Avenue address in the District. It is an active criminal probe, according to the MPD.

Mills’s office told The Hill in an emailed statement Friday that “law enforcement was asked to resolve a private matter at Congressman Mills’ residence. Congressman Mills vehemently denies any wrongdoing whatsoever, and is confident any investigation will clear this matter quickly.”

No arrest was made at the scene.

The reported victim is also denying that a physical falling out took place, telling the Floridian Press on Friday she dialed law enforcement to “address a personal matter.” The woman said the interaction was “emotionally charged,” but the entire situation was “misrepresented” by journalists, arguing her words were taken out of context.

“Several factors influenced my decision to involve the authorities. I had just returned from a 14-hour flight, severely jet-lagged and sleep-deprived. Additionally, I had been drinking during my vacation and had a drink in front of me when the officers arrived, which contributed to my emotional state,” she told the Florida-based outlet.

The woman said she told officers that marks and bruises they noticed upon arriving at the scene “were the result of medical conditions like eczema and activities from my recent trip to Dubai.”

“While the personal matter in question was emotionally charged, there was no physical altercation. Regrettably, the situation has since been misrepresented by reporters and led to relentless harassment from various sources,” she reportedly said. “Words have been taken out of context, and my privacy is being disregarded. This is a deeply personal matter that is being unfairly exploited for political purposes or other motives.”

MPD is also probing its handling of the incident, according to NBC4 Washington, which obtained multiple related police reports. One report that NBC4 reviewed said “(Her significant other for over a year) grabbed her, shoved her, and pushed her out of the door," adding that the woman showed law enforcement the “bruises on her arm which appeared fresh.”

She also “let officers hear Subject 1 [now identified by MPD as Mills] instruct her to lie about the origin of her bruises. … Eventually, Subject 1 made contact with police and admitted that the situation escalated from verbal to physical, but it was severe enough to create bruising,” NBC News reported.

NBC4 reported, citing the police report, that the woman was at a hotel nearby and law enforcement was “able to immediately identify [the alleged victim] out of all other patrons in the lobby by her demeanor: physically shaking and scared.”

The police told Mills that he would be arrested, but “then the woman approached police and recanted the details, including where the bruises came from,” NBC4 wrote.

The other police report that NBC4 obtained, which was produced Thursday, said there was no probable cause for an arrest and that police officers responded to a family disruption.

“Once MPD leadership became aware of this matter there was an immediate review of our initial response to ensure all procedures were followed,” MPD said in an emailed statement to The Hill. “MPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau is currently investigating this matter.”

Mills is serving his second term in the House. Last month, he told reporters he would run for Florida’s Senate seat held previously by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Days later, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) appointed state Attorney General Ashley Moody (R) to Rubio's former seat, though Moody has not said whether she will run for a full term next year and Mills has said "you can probably guarantee my hat is going to be thrown in the ring for 2026."

Mills, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, is under a House probe for a matter that was dispatched to the House Ethics panel on Aug. 29.

Ashleigh Fields contributed.

Topics

DC police probe incident involving Rep. Cory Mills

Politico - 16h
Florida Rep. Cory Mills Under Investigation in Alleged Assault

In a statement, the office of Representative Cory Mills denied any wrongdoing on his behalf.
The New York Times - 12h
Rapper ASAP Rocky acquitted of assault charge over alleged Hollywood shooting

ASAP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, was acquitted Tuesday of assault charges stemming from a 2021 Hollywood shooting.
Los Angeles Times - 3d
Domestic abuse experts to help police in 999 call rooms after murders

The pilot in five police force areas comes after Raneem Oudeh and her mother were murdered in 2018.
BBC News - 1d
Alabama police force put on leave after 5 officers arrested, charged

The Hanceville police chief and four of his officers are accused of mishandling or removing materials from the department's evidence room.
CBS News - 23h
Kevin Spacey says Guy Pearce is 'not a victim' after Pearce says he was 'targeted' by Spacey

Kevin Spacey lashes out with a sarcastic response video after 'L.A. Confidential' co-star Guy Pearce answers a podcast host's question about working with Spacey.
Los Angeles Times - 3d
Entire Alabama police department put on leave after grand jury recommends its abolition

The mayor of Hanceville, Alabama has placed its entire police department on administrative leave, after a grand jury, said the department was “an ongoing threat to public safety.”
NBC News - 1d
7 Florida deputies placed on leave after domestic violence dispute ends in triple homicide

Seven Broward County, Florida, deputies were placed on leave as the sheriff investigates what he called the "piss-poor" handling of an ongoing domestic violence dispute that ended in a triple ...
NBC News - 16h
Jenni Hermoso Was Not the Victim People Wanted Her to Be. And That’s OK.

The Luis Rubiales sentencing provides a reminder that the law is the same for everyone, a columnist for The Athletic writes.
The New York Times - 16h