'Faithful colleague': GOP Speaker shrugs off Rep. Cory Mills' restraining order

Skyler Swisher, Orlando Sentinel on Oct 15, 2025

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U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson declined to weigh in Wednesday on a restraining order barring U.S. Rep. Cory Mills from coming within 500 feet of his ex-girlfriend, calling the Central Florida Republican a “faithful colleague” and suggesting an ethics panel may take up the matter.

The GOP leader sidestepped questions about Mills’ personal scandals a day after a North Florida judge granted a protective order to his ex-girlfriend, Lindsey Langston, the reigning Miss United States beauty queen and a state GOP committeewoman.

“He has been a faithful colleague here,” Johnson said at a Wednesday press conference. “I know his work on the Hill. “I don’t know all the details of all the individual allegations and what he’s doing in his outside life. You’d have to ask him about it.”

Johnson added, “Let’s talk about the things that are really serious.”

He said the House Ethics Committee may look into allegations against Mills, “if it warrants that.”

Langston, 26, accused Mills of threatening to release nude images of her and physically harm her future boyfriends after she ended their relationship.

Mills, 45, had vehemently denied Langston’s allegations, but Circuit Judge Fred Koberlein Jr. said he found her testimony believable while Mills’ was untruthful.

The judge said Mills’ conduct had caused Langston “emotional distress” and forced her to “alter her daily routine out of fear, impairing her ability to perform her job duties and to live a normal life.”

The couple started dating in November 2021, but Langston testified they had a falling out in February when she learned about a domestic disturbance at Mills’ D.C. penthouse involving another woman identified as “Girlfriend 2” in court documents.

Mills is married, but he said he has been separated from his wife since 2019. Ultimately, D.C. Police closed the investigation into the disturbance after the U.S. attorney declined to sign an arrest warrant. The woman, Sarah Raviani, 27, denied that she was assaulted.

In his ruling this week, Koberlein prohibited Mills from having any contact with Langston. And in a special provision written into the order, Mills cannot refer to her on social media — including on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or TikTok.

The restraining order is in effect until Jan. 1.

First elected in 2022 as a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, Mills represents Seminole County and parts of Volusia County. He is an Army veteran who co-founded several security and defense contracting companies with his wife.

Mills, who did not return a message seeking comment, has been embroiled in other controversies.

He is facing accusations that he misrepresented his military career. The House Ethics Committee is reviewing allegations that his companies benefited from federal contracts while he was in office.

So far, there has been no public effort by the GOP to sideline Mills.

Steve Collins, chair of the Seminole County Republican Party, referred questions about Mills to the Florida Republican Party. Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power did not return a message seeking comment Wednesday.

One of Mills’ political rivals, Republican Lake County Commissioner Anthony Sabatini, called on the Florida GOP to censure Mills, noting in a social media post that Langston is a member of the GOP and a state committeewoman.

Democrats plan to target Mills’ seat in next year’s elections. Democratic candidate Noah Widmann said he thinks Mills should be expelled from Congress.

“I’m disgusted by Cory Mills’ behavior,” he said. “No one who behaves this way should hold a position of public trust.”

Another potential Democratic challenger, Marialana Kinter, issued a statement that Mills should resign immediately.

The Central Florida seat has become more GOP friendly with redistricting and Republican dominance in Sunshine State politics. Mills, who has an estimated net worth of about $24 million, easily won re-election in 2024, defeating the Democratic challenger by 13 percentage points.

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