On October 14, 2025, a Florida judge issued a sweeping protective order against Republican Congressman Cory Mills, following explosive allegations by his former girlfriend, Lindsey Langston, that he harassed and threatened her after their relationship ended. The case, which has rapidly become a lightning rod on Capitol Hill, has exposed divisions among lawmakers, reignited debates over intimate partner violence, and cast a spotlight on the conduct of public officials under scrutiny.
According to court documents obtained by ABC News and The 19th, Langston—who holds the title of Miss United States 2024 and serves as a Republican state committeewoman from Columbia County, Florida—filed for the order in August after what she described as a campaign of harassment by Mills. She alleged that Mills threatened to release sexually explicit videos of her and warned he would harm any future partners, actions she said began after their breakup earlier in the year.
In a detailed 14-page ruling, Judge Fred Koberlein Jr. found that Langston suffered "substantial emotional distress considering her professional commitments" as Miss United States. The order described Langston as being "physically ill, curled in the fetal position, requiring family assistance, suffering hives, seeking professional therapy, and being prescribed Xanax and Lexapro, which she took on multiple occasions due to the Respondent’s actions." The judge concluded that Langston had "reasonable cause to believe she is in imminent danger of becoming the victim of another act of dating violence" and noted that Mills "offered no credible rebuttal" to her testimony. The court further stated, "The court, considering the totality of the testimony and the circumstances, does not find the Respondent’s testimony concerning the intimate videos to be truthful."
The injunction, effective until January 2026, prohibits Mills from contacting Langston in any way or coming within 500 feet of her home or workplace. For Langston, the relief was palpable. "I do feel that justice was served, and I can’t even describe the relief that I felt once I got the phone call that I had been issued the injunction for protection. I felt like I’m able to live my life again," she told reporters on a Zoom call alongside her attorney, Bobi Frank, on October 15.
Despite the court’s findings, Mills has forcefully denied all allegations. In a statement to ABC News, he called the claims "false and misrepresent the nature of my interactions," suggesting that a former primary opponent was "weaponizing the legal system to launch a political attack against the man who beat him." Mills, elected to Congress in 2022, has been no stranger to controversy. He is currently under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for possible campaign finance violations and was previously investigated by police in Washington, D.C., over a domestic dispute with another woman in February 2025—a case that was closed with no charges after the woman recanted her claims.
As news of the injunction broke, House Speaker Mike Johnson was pressed by reporters about the allegations and the House’s response. Johnson, who has led the chamber during a period of partisan gridlock and a prolonged government shutdown, appeared to downplay the matter. "I have not heard or looked into details of that. I’ve been a little busy. We have a House Ethics Committee; if it warrants that, I am sure they’ll look into it," Johnson said on October 15. When pressed further, he added, "You have to ask Rep. Mills about that. I mean, he’s been a faithful colleague here. I know his work on the Hill. I mean, I don’t. I don’t know all the details of all the individual allegations and what he’s doing in his outside life. Let’s talk about things that are really serious."
This response drew sharp criticism from House Democrats, who accused Republican leadership of dismissing the seriousness of intimate partner violence—especially during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, recognized each October. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said, "Domestic violence is a serious issue in this country for women all throughout America. And the notion that House Republican leaders would dismiss the seriousness of what is clearly emerging as an untenable and frightening situation relative to Representative Mills is irresponsible." Minority Whip Katherine Clark called the allegations "disturbing" and linked Johnson’s response to broader GOP stances on women’s health and safety, noting, "It is the same way he has approached this entire health care issue. And it is a crisis that will be felt by every single hard-working American in this country, but it is going to be felt first and hardest by women in this country."
Langston’s attorney, Bobi Frank, stated that her client intends to cooperate with any future investigations, including those by the House Ethics Committee. Frank also alleged that "Miss Langston is not alone," suggesting that other individuals may have faced similar experiences. She told reporters, "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." As of now, Mills has not been charged with any crime, and the protective order is a civil, not criminal, matter. However, House rules stipulate that members can be stripped of committee or leadership posts if charged with a felony and face expulsion if convicted.
The controversy surrounding Mills is compounded by his high-profile stances on social issues. As LGBTQ Nation reported, Mills has a history of opposing gender-affirming care for trans youth, labeling it "abuse" and "kids gender mutilation." He has campaigned against what he calls "pornographic books in school"—a phrase often used to target LGBTQ+-inclusive educational content—and in 2023, authored a bill to criminalize publishers distributing "sexually explicit materials" to educational institutions. Mills has also made false public accusations about Olympic boxer Imane Khelif, pressed military leaders to affirm binary gender positions, and criticized anti-racist and pro-environmental initiatives in government and the military.
For now, the House remains out of session, with a government shutdown entering its third week and leadership consumed by negotiations over federal funding. Yet the Mills case continues to simmer, raising questions about Congress’s willingness to address allegations of misconduct within its own ranks and the broader cultural battles playing out across the country.
As the story develops, Langston and her attorney say they are prepared to cooperate fully, and advocates for domestic violence survivors are watching closely. The outcome could have far-reaching implications—not just for Mills and Langston, but for the standards of accountability applied to elected officials facing serious personal allegations.
