US Rep. Mike Collins, chief of staff facing House ethics investigation

Tia Mitchell, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Nov 21, 2025

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WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia and his chief of staff are both under investigation by the U.S. House Committee on Ethics.

The committee on Friday said that the case against Collins, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, and Brandon Phillips had been referred to its members on Oct. 7. In it’s brief release, the committee said that it needed more time to investigate and would announce it’s course of action no later than Jan. 5.

It was unclear what the investigation involved. Before today’s extension notice, which was required by law, the investigation was not public. The committee could release a preliminary report as part of it’s upcoming announcement that contains details about the complaint.

Collins, of Jackson, Georgia, was first elected to the House in 2022 after the seat was vacated by Rep. Jody Hice, who resigned to run for secretary of state. Collins is the owner of a trucking company.

Phillips served on President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign before teaming up with Collins. He has a long and somewhat controversial tenure in Georgia GOP circles, including allegations that he engaged in altercation at the opening of a Trump campaign office in South Georgia in 2024. Phillips said at the time he was attempting to keep the fight from escalating.

Collins and Phillips did not immediately respond to inquiries about the ethics investigation.

A recent Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll found that 30% of likely Republican primary voters supported Collins’ Senate campaign, making him the front-runner in a race that also includes U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter and former football coach Derek Dooley.