A Columbia County judge will consider today whether to issue an order of protection from dating violence and stalking sought by the ex-girlfriend of a Florida congressman.
U.S. Rep. Cory Mills, who represents Seminole County and the southern half of Volusia County, is expected to appear before Columbia County Circuit Judge Fred Koberlein, Jr., either in person in Lake City in North Florida, or by Zoom call, at 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 18.
Mills has not been charged with a crime, although his ex-girlfriend in July made a formal complaint to the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, which has been referred to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for further investigation.
Koberlein denied an ex parte injunction − a requested order based only on the petition, without any opportunity for Mills to respond − but ordered the hearing.
Miss United States: Congressman threatened to release 'intimate videos'
Lindsey Langston, 25, of Lake City, is requesting the protective injunction against dating violence.
She is the reigning Miss United States pageant winner and a Columbia County Republican state committeewoman who says she began dating Mills in November 2021, when Mills was married.
In her petition, Langston said she moved into Mills' New Smyrna Beach home in approximately September 2024, moving out after learning of the Feb. 19 assault investigation by Washington, D.C. Metro Police at the congressman's other home.
His "significant other," Sarah Raviani, made a complaint that Mills grabbed her, shoved her and pushed her out the door, causing bruising, according to a WRC-TV report. She later described the incident as "emotionally charged," but denied any "physical altercation."
After moving out, Langston alleged Mills threatened harm against her future romantic partners, threatened to share "intimate videos" of her "and has alluded to having me stripped of my title of Miss United States if I will not get back with him."
She shared several messages Mills sent, including one stating: "You want to date or be with someone else. Be my guest. But they need to know well in advance that if we cross paths, I don't care this week, this month or this decade. They better damn well know it's coming every time."
Another: "I'm sorry to see this is how you treat things. Good luck to you. Thanks again for the videos."
Langston wrote in her complaint:
"Cory has cyberstalked and continued to make threats to harm me emotionally, physically, harm my future romantic partners both verbally and in writing to ruin my public image. He is reaching out to organizations to speak at events I have to attend as a state committeewoman and an investigation for assault of his other girlfriend is under way."
Mills' response to complaint
Mills, a 45-year-old former State Department contractor and Army veteran of Iraq, has acknowledged dating Langston, but says her complaint is "baseless."
He complained of "lawfare," using the courts for a political attack orchestrated by Langston's attorney, Anthony Sabatini, a Lake County commissioner and former state representative. Sabatini finished second in a competitive 2022 Republican primary for the congressional seat Mills won.
"Breakups happen, but it’s truly tragic when a washed‑up politician drags someone else into his vendetta," Mills said in an Aug. 7 statement. "I wish Ms. Langston well and genuine happiness."
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida congressman headed to court for protective order sought by ex
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