U.S. House committee opens probe of Georgia Republican Collins

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins speaks at a Donald Trump rally in 2024. (File photo by Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

WASHINGTON — Georgia Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins and his chief of staff are under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, though the panel didn’t detail Friday why it’s looking into their actions.

The brief press release said the committee will “announce its course of action in this matter on or before” Jan. 5 and that an investigation “does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee.” 

Collins became a member of Congress, representing the state’s 10th Congressional District, in January 2023. He has since set his sights on the U.S. Senate and is one of several Republican politicians running in the primary for the chance to challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in next year’s midterm elections. 

A spokesperson for Collins rejected the investigation against the congressman and his chief of staff, Brandon Phillips.

“This bogus referral is nothing but a desperate and baseless attack by Rep. Collins’ political opponents,” the spokesperson wrote in an email. “We look forward to the Ethics Committee completing its work and this frivolous complaint being dismissed. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

The spokesperson contended the Ethics Committee is not investigating but that its members are looking into “a referral” the Office of Congressional Conduct, formerly the Office of Congressional Ethics, sent on Oct. 7. 

“Also, this is not an ‘Ethics investigation.’ A referral was made to the Ethics Commission,” the spokesperson wrote in a second email. “Please have all reporting reflect the accuracy of the letter.” 

The House Ethics Committee has announced numerous investigations into lawmakers this year, including one earlier this week into Florida Republican Rep. Cory Mills.