Florida Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick Resigns Amid Ethics Investigation

Democratic Representative Resigns Amid Ethics Investigation and Criminal Charges

Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida abruptly resigned from Congress on Tuesday, just moments before the start of a House Ethics Committee hearing that could have recommended her expulsion from the legislative body.

The resignation caps a more than two-year investigation by the committee, which had determined that Cherfilus-McCormick violated multiple federal laws and House rules. Her support within the Democratic Party had been increasingly tenuous as the allegations mounted against her.

In a pointed statement announcing her departure, Cherfilus-McCormick claimed the committee denied her new attorney’s request for additional time to prepare a defense. She characterized the investigation as a “witch hunt” and said she was resigning rather than “play political games.”

“Let me say this plainly: we should be very careful about the precedent we are setting in this country. We do not punish people before due process is complete,” she stated. “We do not allow allegations alone to override the will of the people. That is a dangerous path, and one that should concern every American, regardless of party.”

Cherfilus-McCormick’s resignation marks the third departure from the House in just over a week, following the resignations of Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-California) and Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), both of whom were facing sexual misconduct allegations and possible expulsion.

Beyond the ethics investigation, Cherfilus-McCormick is facing federal criminal charges accusing her of misappropriating $5 million in federal disaster funds. Prosecutors allege she used the money to purchase luxury items, including a 3-carat yellow diamond ring. She has pleaded not guilty to these charges and has maintained her innocence regarding the ethics violations.

The core allegations involve how she received millions from her family’s health care business after Florida mistakenly overpaid the company approximately $5 million in COVID-19 disaster relief funds. Investigators claim she used this money to finance her 2022 congressional campaign through a network of businesses and family members – a serious violation of campaign finance laws.

During previous Ethics Committee hearings, Cherfilus-McCormick declined to testify, invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Her attorney, William Barzee, had argued that the committee should allow a thorough ethics trial where he could present witnesses and evidence to counter the House investigators’ conclusions.

Despite her legal troubles, Cherfilus-McCormick maintained support from some constituents in her Florida district. A group of local faith leaders, union officials, and community members had written to the Ethics Committee urging caution in sanctioning the congresswoman.

“Our communities deserve stability. Our voices deserve to be heard. And our right to representation must be protected,” stated one of the letters signed by approximately a dozen supporters.

The Congressional Black Caucus, led by Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-New York), released a statement praising Cherfilus-McCormick’s congressional service, saying she “worked to uplift her constituents and elevate issues impacting underserved communities at home and abroad.”

House Democratic leadership had previously declined to condemn Cherfilus-McCormick, stating they wanted to see the ethics process completed. However, sources indicate party leaders had been in discussions with her for weeks about her precarious position following the Ethics Committee’s findings.

The committee’s investigation was extensive, resulting in 59 subpoenas, 28 witness interviews, and a review of more than 33,000 pages of documents.

Before her resignation, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) had expressed confidence that the House would move to expel Cherfilus-McCormick, stating, “The facts are indisputable at this point.” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) sharply criticized her “witch hunt” characterization, saying, “If you steal money, it’s called theft. It’s not called a witch hunt, and stealing taxpayer money is not going to be tolerated.”

Historically, the House has been reluctant to expel its members, preferring to leave such decisions to voters. Under the Constitution, expulsion requires a two-thirds majority vote – a high threshold demanding significant bipartisan support. Since the founding of Congress, only six House members have been expelled: three for supporting the Confederacy during the Civil War, two following criminal convictions, and most recently, scandal-plagued Rep. George Santos of New York.