A bipartisan investigative subcommittee of the House Ethics Committee found Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) guilty of 25 ethics violations, including money laundering and making false statements on campaign finance reports, raising the possibility of her expulsion from Congress. Despite the verdict and ongoing federal criminal charges, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has so far declined to call for her removal.
The ethics panel’s findings stem from Cherfilus-McCormick’s alleged illegal transfer of millions in disaster relief funds, initially paid to her family’s healthcare company, to finance her congressional campaign and buy luxury items such as a large diamond ring. Cherfilus-McCormick has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges, which carry a potential sentence of more than five decades in prison if convicted.
The House Ethics Committee is expected to announce recommended disciplinary action, possibly including expulsion, in April. Under House rules, expulsion requires a two-thirds majority vote. Cherfilus-McCormick has not indicated any intention to resign and is seeking a fourth term in the upcoming November elections. She stated that she intends to “prove my innocence” and remain focused on serving her district.
House Democratic leadership, including Jeffries and House Democratic Conference Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), have so far refrained from publicly condemning Cherfilus-McCormick. Aguilar said he had not reviewed the ethics panel’s report but acknowledged the severity of the violations.
However, some rank-and-file Democrats have begun to break the silence. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) publicly called for Cherfilus-McCormick to resign or face removal, stating, “You can’t crime your way into legitimate power.” A few other congressional Democrats indicated they might support an expulsion resolution if the representative does not voluntarily step down.
The National Republican Congressional Committee criticized House Democrats for their muted response, accusing them of failing to hold Cherfilus-McCormick accountable despite the Ethics Committee’s findings.
Why it matters
The Ethics Committee’s verdict and the ongoing federal indictment place Cherfilus-McCormick at serious risk of expulsion, a rare and significant disciplinary action in Congress. The incident highlights Democratic leadership’s cautious approach amid potential political fallout and growing pressure from lawmakers demanding accountability. The case also raises questions about campaign finance violations and ethical standards in congressional elections.
Background
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has represented Florida’s 20th Congressional District since 2022. The federal indictment alleges she illegally redirected disaster relief funds meant for her family’s healthcare company into her congressional campaign and personal expenses. The House Ethics Committee began investigating these allegations, leading to the bipartisan subcommittee’s guilty finding of multiple ethics violations related to misuse of funds, false campaign disclosures, and improper solicitation of favors.
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