Janet Mills, the progressive governor of Maine, expressed her shock with an expletive after long-standing allegations of cocaine use came to light, prompted by a Department of Justice Memo that details the Democratic politician’s troubled history.
To provide context, Governor Janet Mills of Maine was approached by a reporter during her visit to Washington, D.C., who inquired about the recently revived allegations of her past cocaine use. When asked if “sniffing cocaine at work” could be considered a “human right,” the governor responded with a blunt, “What the f—?” This reaction intensified the scrutiny surrounding her behavior. Mills chose not to respond further to the reporter’s inquiry.
The DOJ documents in question were obtained by Fox News on June 30, 2025, and they claimed that Governor Mills struggled with substance abuse issues in the 1990s, indicating that she was investigated by a federal grand jury for drug-related offenses, which led her to reportedly file a libel lawsuit against a journalist. When confronted about these allegations by a reporter in Washington, D.C., her response was succinct and profane: “What the f—?”
Additionally, Fox News reported that in 1991, Governor Mills reacted to the allegations by stating, “It’s scary,” and remarked, “Maine apparently has a secret police force at work that can ruin the reputation of anyone who opposes it.” However, the DOJ characterized Mills’ assertions of having her reputation damaged for political motives as “unsubstantiated.”
Furthermore, according to Fox News, Governor Mills labeled herself as “the victim of a smear campaign” in 1991 in her efforts to restore her reputation. She also expressed concern that it creates a “very bad precedent when a prosecutor must look over his or her shoulder every time someone is incarcerated, worrying whether that individual will find an audience nearby in the BIDE office or down the road in the U.S. Attorney’s Office to speak ill of you.”
Significantly, the revival of the accusations against Governor Mills occurred merely months after the Department of Justice revealed enforcement actions against the state of Maine for its failure to safeguard women and girls in sports. In a statement, Attorney General Pam Bondi asserted that Governor Mills’ administration is “discriminating against women by not ensuring their protection in women’s sports. This is quite fundamental.”
In reaction to the lawsuit, Governor Mills expressed her outrage, stating to ABC News, “My Administration and Maine’s Attorney General will staunchly defend our state against the action announced today by the Department of Justice.” Additionally, the governor remarked, “There are currently two…trans athletes competing in Maine schools,” minimizing the concern during an interview with WGME.
Moreover, President Trump and Governor Mills clashed during a National Governors Association meeting in February 2025, where President Trump questioned the governor, “Are you not going to comply with that?” in reference to his executive order prohibiting trans athletes from participating in women’s sports. The governor reportedly refused and replied, “See you in court.”