Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Three decades after Maine’s Democratic Governor Janet Mills sidestepped the release of nearly 6,000 pages detailing a federal investigation into her alleged cocaine use, the National Republican Senatorial Committee has initiated actions to obtain these documents.
In April of 2025, the NRSC filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the National Archives and Records Administration seeking access to files linked to Mills’ suspected cocaine use during a time when the Democratic party speculated about her possible entry into the upcoming Senate race.
Initially, NARA indicated they would assess the NRSC’s request. However, they soon claimed that 3,000 pages fell under FOIA exemptions, intended to protect grand jury testimony from public view.
The NRSC has since appealed this denial, arguing for the documents’ public interest. Recent reports from Fox News Digital revealed a newly discovered memo that challenges Mills’ assertion that the investigation was merely a product of political motivations.
Notably, of the total documents requested, around 3,195 did not qualify for FOIA exemption but experienced an extensive waiting period of 11 years for processing. Interestingly, Mills herself submitted a FOIA request for these same documents in 1992.
In a story published by the Ellsworth American, Mills received a response indicating that NARA was overwhelmed and unable to process her request promptly.
When asked if she would disclose the documents if obtained, Mills remarked that she would need to review the contents before making any decisions.
In early 1990, Mills, serving as a district attorney in Maine at the time, came under scrutiny from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Maine’s Bureau of Intergovernmental Drug Enforcement following allegations from a drug suspect accusing her of cocaine use.
Despite the gravity of the investigation, it concluded without filing any charges against Mills. She has consistently claimed that the inquiry was unfounded and motivated by her Democratic affiliation and vocal criticism of BIDE’s practices. In 1990, Mills and two fellow district attorneys publicly denounced BIDE for inflating arrest statistics through aggressive enforcement against low-level drug offenses.
Mills voiced her concerns in a November 1991 interview with the Portland Press Herald, stating it was alarming that Maine appeared to have a secret police force capable of tarnishing the reputation of those who oppose it.
A memorandum from March 1995, uncovered by Fox News Digital and issued by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Professional Responsibility, contradicts Mills’ narrative. The memo indicates no wrongdoing by either federal or state authorities involved in her case. It was reported by WCSH-TV in December 1990 that Mills was under investigation by a federal grand jury for alleged drug use, based on information from law enforcement sources.
In response, Mills pursued a libel and slander lawsuit against the reporter responsible for the story, asserting that official leaks from BIDE had unduly influenced the press.
The outcome of her lawsuit is unclear, as records from the case were reportedly disposed of in 2015, in line with policy. An article from the Lewiston Sun-Journal in 1991 suggests that Mills’ efforts to silence rumors regarding the drug investigation were dismissed by a judge.
Just recently, Mills had an encounter in Washington, D.C., where she faced queries about her alleged cocaine use. Video footage captured her startled response to a question regarding whether using cocaine at work constituted a human right.
As Maine prepares for upcoming elections, longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins is set for re-election in 2026, with Mills’ governorship concluding next year. This situation positions Mills as a potential candidate in the Senate race, should she choose to enter.
Although Mills stated in April that she did not intend to pursue another office, she acknowledged that circumstances can shift swiftly in politics, hinting at the possibility of a Senate run.
The investigation’s resurgence, coupled with Mills’ uncertain political future, has intensified scrutiny surrounding her past. The NRSC’s determined efforts for transparency reflect broader concerns over political accountability and integrity.
The unfolding story remains critical not only for Maine politics but also carries implications for national discourse on ethics and governance.
