Facing Expulsion
Florida Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned from Congress on Tuesday, just before the House Ethics Committee was scheduled to consider recommending her expulsion. The adjudicatory subcommittee determined she was guilty of 25 of 27 allegations in the committee's report, related to allegations that she stole federal relief funds and used some of the money to fund her political campaign. Cherfilus-McCormick has been charged with stealing nearly $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds for her campaign and has pleaded not guilty.
Allegations of Misconduct
The Ethics Committee released a report in January detailing its months-long investigation into Cherfilus-McCormick's alleged misconduct, finding "substantial evidence of conduct consistent with the allegations in the indictment, as well as more extensive misconduct." The investigation found a pattern of inaccurate and incomplete campaign finance reports across several election cycles, including improper contributions falsely reported as personal loans and inflated cash-on-hand numbers. Investigators also accused Cherfilus-McCormick of spending the funds on luxury goods, including jewelry and designer clothing.
"A Witch Hunt"
Cherfilus-McCormick criticized the House Ethics Committee process as "a witch hunt" in a statement posted on X. She alleged that because the panel moved forward while her criminal indictment was pending, she was prevented from properly defending herself. "Rather than play these political games, I choose to step away so that I can devote my time to fighting for my neighbors in Florida's 20th district," Cherfilus-McCormick said.
The Ethics Committee Response
House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest of Mississippi said Cherfilus-McCormick's resignation means his panel "has now lost jurisdiction in this matter." Guest defended the committee's work, stating, "the committee has worked diligently to investigate this matter, that this was not a rush to judgment...that this was a very deliberate process to gather information into allegations that were extremely serious and extremely complicated."
Impact on the House
Republicans currently have a two-seat margin in the House, with 218 Republican-aligned members and 213 Democrats. Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has broad latitude in scheduling a special election to fill Cherfilus-McCormick's seat in the deep blue district that includes parts of Fort Lauderdale.
Legal Ramifications
The Justice Department indicted Cherfilus-McCormick in November on charges that she stole and laundered millions in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding. She could face more than 50 years in prison if convicted. Her federal trial, originally scheduled to begin in 2026, was delayed until February 2027. Her attorney, William Barzee, argued that the Ethics panel should not have moved forward with a public hearing or verdict, claiming it would influence Cherfilus-McCormick's criminal case and violate her right to due process.
The sources also report that Cherfilus-McCormick's resignation is the third in April, following those of Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California and Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas over sexual misconduct allegations.