House Speaker Mike Johnson implied that domestic abuse accusations against Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) aren’t a “serious” topic after being asked about them twice at a Tuesday press conference, Politico reported.

Johnson was asked about a judge’s recent issuance of a restraining order against Mills, sought by a former girlfriend — Lindsey Langston, the 2024 winner of the Miss United States beauty pageant — who alleged that Mills assaulted her and threatened to release explicit videos of her.

Related

Anti-trans GOP lawmaker accused of beating up woman he had an affair with

Johnson replied by referring to Mills as a “faithful colleague” and saying that the House Ethics Committee could look into the matter if it feels an investigation is warranted. The committee is currently investigating Mills for an unrelated matter regarding campaign finance statements, The Hill reported.

When asked a second time about the allegations, Johnson replied, “Let’s just talk about some things that are really serious,” and called on another reporter.

Insights for the LGBTQ+ community

Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more.
Subscribe to our Newsletter today

Langston’s lawyer, Bobi Frank, said Mills could still face criminal charges in Florida, stating, “There’s certainly the evidence there to pursue criminal charges. I would suspect that this isn’t the last time you’re going to hear about this.”

Mills has previously made statements against gender-affirming care for trans youth (or as he called it “abuse” and “kids gender mutilation”) and opposes so-called “pornographic books in school,” a term often used to ban LGBTQ+-inclusive educational content. In February 2023, he authored a bill to jail publishers who distribute “sexually explicit materials” to schools and educational agencies.

He falsely accused cisgender female Olympic boxer Imane Khelif of being a man. He has also opposed anti-racist education in schools and the military and pro-environmental corporate investing.

During a July 19, 2023, House Armed Services Committee hearing, he pressed military leaders to state on the record that there are only two genders, that “meritocracy” is more important to creating military leaders than diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts; and their opposition to using gender-neutral language when referring to people’s parents.

During a June 13, 2023, House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, he asked the U.S. State Department Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley how she would respond to “a group of males, caucasian or any skin color who identified as a woman of color.” She remarked that she had no idea how to even answer his question. Mills then claimed that the State Department has a “deeply misguided belief” that anyone who opposes women, disabled people, homosexuals, or people of color is hateful.

Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.