Embattled Rep. Cory Mills pressed on stolen valor claims and even his religion at fiery GOP primary debate

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. 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 D...