The District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) over an alleged assault this week.
“MPD officers were called to the 1300 block of Maryland Avenue, Southwest, around 1:15 p.m. Wednesday for the report of an assault,” the police department said in a statement on Feb. 21. “This is an active criminal investigation and there is no further information on the case to provide at this time.”
MPD also said it is conducting an internal investigation over its handling of the case.
The alleged incident took place in the affluent Wharf neighborhood of Washington and involved Iranian American activist Sarah Raviani, who alleged a simple assault offense against Mills, who represents Florida’s Seventh Congressional District.
According to the incident report, the alleged assault involved hands, or feet, and not a weapon.
In a statement, Raviani said she contacted MPD to respond to what she called “a personal matter.” She said she was “jet-lagged and sleep-deprived,” having returned to Washington after a 14-hour flight from a vacation. When officers arrived, she said, she had a drink in front of her.
“Upon their arrival, they noticed some bruising and marks on my arms, which I explained were the result of medical conditions like eczema and activities from my recent trip to Dubai,” she said. “While the personal matter in question was emotionally charged, there was no physical altercation.”
Raviani said the alleged incident “has since been misrepresented by reporters and led to relentless harassment from various sources. Words have been taken out of context, and my privacy is being disregarded. This is a deeply personal matter that is being unfairly exploited for political purposes or other motives.”
Raviani did not respond to follow-up questions such as why she was visiting Mills and what factors led to her contacting the police.
Mills, an Army veteran who was first elected in 2022, has denied any wrongdoing.
“This week, law enforcement was asked to resolve a private matter at Congressman Mills’ residence. Congressman Mills vehemently denies any wrongdoing whatsoever, and is confident any investigation will clear this matter quickly,” Mills’s office said in a statement.
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