Florida congressman probed for assault of Iranian Trump backer

Cory Mills, a Republican congressman from Florida, is under investigation after police in Washington responded to a report of assault against a young Iranian woman who is an outspoken supporter of US president Donald Trump.

The alleged victim, according to the police report, is Sarah Raviani, a co-founder of Iranians for Trump. According to the New York Post, the alleged assault occurred around midday in the congressman’s penthouse apartment near the National Mall.

NBC reported that Ravani told police that her “significant other for over a year” had grabbed her, shoved her and pushed her out the door, resulting in bruises on her arms.

She also reportedly provided police with a recording of Mills asking her to lie about the reason for her bruising, in which he reportedly acknowledged that their dispute had escalated from verbal to physical. Mills has denied any wrongdoing.

“This week, law enforcement was asked to resolve a private matter at Congressman Mills’ residence,” a spokesperson for Mills said in a statement to Fox News. “Congressman Mills vehemently denies any wrongdoing whatsoever, and is confident any investigation will clear this matter quickly.”

Raviani later seemed to go back on her initial report, blaming fatigue and a skin condition to explain the bruises.

Mills, who represents Florida’s District 7 on the state’s central east coast, has been married to his wife Rana Al Saadi, who came to the US as an Iraqi refugee in 2008, since 2014. They have two children.

The couple run a weapons and security company called Pacem Solutions, which sells weapons to foreign governments, though according to a report by Business Insider, it is unclear if the company is open about its foreign deals. According to their website, Pacem legally operates in the United States, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, UAE, Australia, Kenya, Malaysia, Kuwait.

It is unclear how Mills and Raviani are acquainted, though they have both been strong supporters of US President Donald Trump. During the latest presidential election, he was the fourth representative from Florida to endorse Trump, calling for the need for Republican unity. 

For her part, Raviani’s support for Trump appears connected to the president’s opposition to the Iranian government, according to her social media posts.