25 violations by Florida Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, ethics panel says

Democratic Rep. Faces Multiple Ethics Violations, Possible Expulsion Over Campaign Funding Scandal

The House Ethics Committee ruled late Friday that Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) committed 25 ethics violations, potentially bolstering Republican efforts to remove her from Congress. The bipartisan committee reached its decision after deliberating into the early hours following an unusual seven-hour public hearing.

The violations center on allegations that Cherfilus-McCormick improperly funded her 2022 congressional campaign using millions of dollars her family’s healthcare business received from an approximate $5 million overpayment in Florida disaster relief funds. Committee investigators claim she channeled this money through a network of businesses and family members while publicly portraying her campaign as self-financed.

“The committee will recommend an appropriate punishment in the coming weeks,” said a spokesperson for the panel, which consists of four Democrats and four Republicans.

This ethics ruling adds to Cherfilus-McCormick’s mounting legal troubles. She already faces federal charges for allegedly misappropriating COVID-19 disaster relief funds, which prosecutors claim she used for personal purchases including a 3-carat yellow diamond ring. Her brother, former chief of staff, and accountant have also been charged in connection with the scheme. She has pleaded not guilty to all federal charges.

During Thursday’s ethics hearing – the first public ethics proceeding in nearly 15 years – the congresswoman declined to testify, invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Her attorney, William Barzee, strongly criticized the proceedings, arguing that the committee should have permitted a full ethics trial where he could present witnesses and evidence countering the House investigators’ conclusions.

“They’re attempting to throw a woman out of Congress who was duly elected by her constituents,” Barzee said, claiming the case was built primarily on bank records without proper context. He maintained that “she was entitled to that money,” citing a document outlining how her family would share proceeds from the healthcare business.

Committee members appeared unconvinced by this defense, expressing skepticism throughout the contentious hearing. The committee’s 242-page report ultimately substantiated 25 of the 27 violations initially alleged against the representative.

Cherfilus-McCormick represents Florida’s 20th congressional district, which covers parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties in southeastern Florida. She won her seat in a special election in 2022 and is currently seeking her fourth term in Congress.

The ethics committee’s decision could significantly impact Democratic caucus dynamics as the party attempts to regain control of the House in November’s elections. Democratic leadership now faces difficult questions about whether to support calls for Cherfilus-McCormick’s expulsion or defend a member of their caucus against what her attorney characterizes as a politically motivated process.

Several political analysts note that ethics scandals involving sitting members have historically damaged party brands regardless of partisan affiliation. With margins in the House expected to be razor-thin after the November elections, each seat could prove crucial in determining majority control.

“This case has implications beyond just one representative,” said Eleanor Smithson, political science professor at Georgetown University. “When ethics violations involve campaign finance issues, they raise fundamental questions about election integrity that resonate with voters across the political spectrum.”

The timing of the committee’s forthcoming punishment recommendation could prove particularly consequential as Election Day approaches. If expulsion proceedings move forward, Cherfilus-McCormick would become just the sixth House member expelled since the Civil War.

Her federal trial on the criminal charges is expected to begin in the coming months, according to statements made by her attorney during the ethics hearing, potentially creating another layer of legal and political complications for the embattled representative.