Federal investigators are reviving a long-dormant probe into allegations that Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, used cocaine regularly while serving as a county prosecutor in the 1990s.
The probe has been reopened as Mills remains engaged in a longstanding public feud with President Trump.
The Justice Department’s (DOJ) renewed interest in the decades-old accusations comes after reports that previously sealed internal case files have recently resurfaced, prompting officials to take another look at the matter.
Sources say investigators are now examining whether Mills’ alleged drug use may have compromised cases she prosecuted as Androscoggin County District Attorney.
The allegations first surfaced in the early 1990s after a drug suspect reportedly informed federal agents that Mills was a habitual cocaine user during her time as a prosecutor.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Maine’s Bureau of Intergovernmental Drug Enforcement investigated the claim.
Though the probe was dropped without charges, the related court documents were later destroyed in 2015 as part of routine archival procedures, as Resist the Mainstream reported earlier this month.
At the time, Mills attacked the DEA’s conduct, referring to them as a “secret police force” and accusing federal agents of engaging in politically motivated surveillance.
She also sued a local television station that aired leaked grand jury information tied to the investigation, further intensifying the controversy.
Now, more than 30 years later, the case has returned to public attention amid ongoing tensions between Mills and President Trump.
Their disagreements date back to the COVID-19 pandemic, when Mills opposed some federal reopening guidelines supported by Trump.
More recently, at a National Governors Association meeting, the two reportedly exchanged differing views on policies related to gender and education, according to Trending Politics.
Mills has also drawn criticism from conservatives over her embrace of trans-identifying athlete participation in girls’ sports—a stance that directly contradicts Trump’s push to “defend women’s sports.”
The governor’s policy positions and public statements have drawn criticism from the Trump administration and its supporters.
During a recent appearance at a blueberry farm in Maine, Mills was asked directly about the resurfaced cocaine allegations.
She responded with laughter and said, “What the f*ck?” before declining to issue a clear denial.
When pressed on whether she ever used cocaine while making legal decisions, Mills offered no comment.
The DOJ has not confirmed whether Mills herself is a direct target of the reopened inquiry or if the review will focus more broadly on her prosecutorial conduct.
Legal analysts caution that if the allegations against Mills are proven true, it could have far-reaching consequences, with hundreds of past convictions potentially subject to review or even reversal.
Such developments would pose a significant challenge to Maine’s criminal justice system, raising questions about the integrity of cases prosecuted during Mills’ tenure and potentially overwhelming courts with appeals and retrials.
Mills has not publicly addressed the renewed investigation, nor has her office issued an official statement regarding the resurfaced allegations—leaving many awaiting a detailed response to clarify her position as media and public interest grows.
The DOJ has yet to announce a timeline or scope for its review.
