WASHINGTON, D.C. — A U.S. House ethics panel found that the majority of allegations against Florida Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick were proven, escalating political pressure and prompting renewed calls for her resignation or expulsion from Congress.
Cherfilus-McCormick has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty in a separate federal criminal case. Republican Rep. Greg Steube of Florida previously threatened to force a vote to expel her from the House, and following the panel’s findings, several Democrats also publicly urged her to step down or face disciplinary action.
The ethics investigation focused on allegations involving financial conduct tied to her 2021 congressional campaign and business activities. The committee concluded that a majority of the allegations reviewed were substantiated, though additional congressional or legal proceedings could follow.
The case is also connected to a separate federal indictment returned by a grand jury in Miami. Prosecutors alleged that Cherfilus-McCormick and several co-defendants stole federal disaster relief funds tied to a FEMA-funded COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract in 2021 and used a portion of the money to support her congressional campaign and for personal benefit.
If convicted in the federal criminal case, Cherfilus-McCormick could face significant prison time. However, the legal process remains ongoing, and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The House of Representatives has the authority to discipline or expel members, though expulsion requires a two-thirds vote. The ethics panel’s findings have increased the likelihood that Congress could consider further action in the coming weeks.
