Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) faced a barrage of attacks Wednesday at the Republican primary debate for Florida’s Seventh Congressional District, where his rivals pressed him on allegations of “stolen valor,” a Justice Department probe and even that he converted to Islam.
Mills, who is currently being investigated by the House Ethics Committee over “serious and complex” accusations, including domestic assault, was defiant throughout the debate and vehemently denied the allegations, which his opponents argued could put Democrats in position to win in November.
“This isn’t personal for me. I’m in it so we don’t lose this seat,” Ryan Elijah, a former Orlando news anchor who is now running for Mills’ seat, told voters.
Florida Rep. Cory Mills during the GOP primary debate on Aug. 5, 2026. The Floridian
Elijah touted the 20 endorsements he’s racked up in the last month from people – including Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) and Mike Haridopolos (R-Fla.) – who have “lost trust and confidence” in Mills.
“There is a reason we have never seen this running against an incumbent – so many people have endorsed someone – it’s because they know what’s coming, and I’m telling you … if you look the other way, we are going to get a huge surprise in November,” he argued.
Elijah made several references to Mills reportedly being under investigation by the Justice Department.
“I would never go without a source,” the former newsman said. “I can promise you, 100%, there is a DOJ investigation.”
But Mills dismissed the claim as “fake news,” denied having knowledge of an active DOJ probe and pointed to alleged remarks made by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and FBI Director Kash Patel also denying knowledge of an active probe.
“The bottom line is that how is it that this one anonymous source knows more than the most powerful men on earth? That in itself should raise questions,” Mills argued.
Another 7th District congressional hopeful, Army veteran and longtime Department of Defense official Michael Don Johnson, hammered Mills on his own service record.
“This is personal with me. Stolen valor is a very, very important thing for me … that’s evil and nasty and wicked,” Johnson said, claiming Mills lied about heroic actions in Iraq that resulted in a Bronze Star being awarded to him.Mills denied embellishing his military service.
“When it comes to stolen valor, go look at my [Official Military Personnel File] file. Go look at my [active duty discharge paperwork] from 2004, which shows my Bronze Star there and then shows it again in 2024,” he responded.
U.S. Rep. Cory Mills arrives at a post-debate event in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, on Aug. 5, 2026. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Congressional candidate Ryan Elijah poses with attendees at the debate on Aug. 5, 2026. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Sarah Ulrich, a self-described political outsider challenging Mills, pressed the congressman on allegations he married his ex-wife, an Iraq War refugee, in a mosque and converted to Islam.
“We were actually married at the Fairfax (Va.) courthouse,” the congressman responded.
“I’m a proud Christian, I always have been,” Mills asserted. ‘We can go ahead and say the Lord’s Prayer all we want right now.”
Johnson, unsatisfied with Mills’ answer, later held up a document which he claimed showed the congressman was married at a mosque and underwent “Islamic training to be a good Muslim husband.”
“Bottom line is that if they saw me eat as many bacon sandwiches as I eat they wouldn’t have that same outcome,” Mills shot back, calling Johnson’s claim “nonsense.”
Mills closed by noting he’s been endorsed by President Trump in the Aug. 18 primary and hasn’t been found guilty “of anything.”
“The reality is this: every allegation, every accusation, we can accuse people and allege anything, but one thing I’ve not been found of is guilty, of anything, and that right there should serve itself,” he said.
“I stand by one thing,” Mills added. “Three times I have been endorsed by President Donald J. Trump. He supports me. He trusts me, and I hope you will too.”
