Rep. Cory Mills Invites Girlfriend to Testify on Syria Pipeline
Outgoing Rep. Cory Mills invited his girlfriend to testify on a Syria pipeline project, raising ethics concerns.
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Outgoing Florida Representative Cory Mills has drawn scrutiny over allegations that he invited a woman he is dating to testify as an expert witness at a House subcommittee hearing on a Syrian pipeline project. The claim, made by independent journalist Roger Sollenberger, surfaced on Wednesday and has sparked concern over potential ethics violations.
Alleged Conflict of Interest
Sollenberger, who has followed Mills’ activities for nearly two years, reported that the congressman invited the woman to appear as an expert policy witness at a hearing he scheduled. However, no such hearing appears on the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s public schedule. Sollenberger noted that this would be an unprecedented move, as no member of Congress has ever called their secret girlfriend to testify as an expert witness.
Travel and Disclosure Concerns
Additional allegations suggest that Mills traveled to Syria several times without disclosing who paid for the trips. Sollenberger reported that the hearing might not proceed as planned, with multiple members expressing alarm. Mills, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Intelligence, has the authority to set hearing topics and invite witnesses. He previously convened a panel hearing on economic security zones.
Ethics Committee Investigation
The House Ethics Committee has already established an investigative subcommittee that covers financial disclosures, campaign finance, and gifts related to travel. The committee noted that this step does not automatically indicate a violation, but the situation has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest.
Recent Syria Trip Sparks Controversy
Mills traveled to Damascus in April 2025 with Rep. Marlin Stutzman and met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani without security details. Kyle Shideler of the Center for Security Policy warned of an “appearance of impropriety” that could be exploited by foreign adversaries.
Public Disclosure Issues
A solo trip to Syria in September 2025, where Mills met with finance and information technology ministers, lacked public disclosure of its itinerary or funding. This has further fueled concerns about transparency and potential misuse of congressional resources.
Source: Breitbart
