GOP Reps. Nancy Mace and Cory Mills are locked in an escalating personal clash over Mace’s failed effort to censure Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar for her response to the killing of activist Charlie Kirk. Mace’s censure measure, which sought to condemn Omar for her statements regarding the incident, fell one vote short of passing. The resolution was tabled by a narrow margin when Mills, along with three other Republicans, joined all Democrats in opposing the bid.
Mills cited “First Amendment” issues as his reason for voting against the measure. This prompted Mace to accuse him and the other Republicans of stifling “free speech” by opposing her effort. She even took to X to claim that Mills had threatened her through a text message the previous evening. Mills, however, denied making any threats and argued that the mere act of reminding someone of their past remarks—particularly on the topic of the 2021 Capitol riot—did not constitute a threat.
“What would have happened if you shared the video of you condemning President Trump over J6 for free speech?” Mills challenged Mace in an interview, emphasizing that if reminding someone of their own past remarks is considered a threat, then everyone is perpetually engaging in threats. While Mills expressed respect for Mace and supported her politically, he claimed that her frustration over not getting her measure passed had nothing to do with his involvement.
Interestingly, Mills benefited from the outcome, as Democrats retreated from a retaliatory effort to censure him over ethical and domestic abuse allegations he has denied. He stated he would be willing to continue the censure proceedings, but Mace denounced the GOP opposition as “really gross” and “very disappointing.” A reporter overheard her inform a colleague that she had sent the names of the four Republicans to President Donald Trump, indicating her frustration with Republican leadership on the issue.