WASHINGTON — Florida Democratic Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick faces a pivotal Tuesday as House Ethics Committee members deliberate potential penalties following their determination that she violated House regulations and ethical guidelines 25 times, including breaches of campaign finance law.
GOP members are already demanding Cherfilus-McCormick’s removal from office. The third-term congresswoman, who represents a district in southeastern Florida and seeks reelection, also confronts federal criminal allegations claiming she misappropriated $5 million in COVID-19 disaster relief money for personal purchases, including a 3-carat yellow diamond ring.
Cherfilus-McCormick has entered a not guilty plea to the criminal accusations and maintains her innocence regarding ethics violations as well.
The charges against the representative focus on how she obtained millions from her family’s healthcare company after Florida accidentally overpaid the business approximately $5 million in pandemic disaster relief money. Prosecutors claim she channeled those funds into her 2022 congressional campaign through a web of businesses and relatives.
During a prior Ethics Committee session, Cherfilus-McCormick refused to provide testimony, invoking her Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination. Her lawyer, William Barzee, clashed with committee members and contended they should have permitted a complete ethics trial where he could present witnesses and evidence challenging the House investigators’ findings.
Supporters from Cherfilus-McCormick’s congressional district have contacted Ethics Committee leadership on her behalf. They emphasized that the committee’s ruling could deprive hundreds of thousands of constituents of congressional representation during a crucial period for their state, urging committee leaders to exercise careful judgment.
“Our communities deserve stability. Our voices deserve to be heard. And our right to representation must be protected,” stated a letter to the committee signed by approximately twelve local religious leaders, union representatives and others.
The committee’s two-year probe resulted in 59 subpoenas being issued, 28 witness interviews conducted, and examination of over 33,000 document pages.
Florida Republican Representative Greg Steube has announced plans to initiate expulsion proceedings against Cherfilus-McCormick following the Ethics Committee’s punishment recommendation.
Such action might prompt Democrats to pursue the removal of Representative Cory Mills, a Florida Republican currently under extensive Ethics Committee investigation for potential campaign finance law violations, misuse of congressional resources, and alleged sexual misconduct or dating violence. Mills’ investigation continues, and he denies all allegations.
This attention on congressional misconduct follows last week’s resignation of two lawmakers amid ethics probes into alleged sexual impropriety. Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell of California and Republican Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas avoided potential expulsion votes by stepping down.
House Democratic leadership has refrained from criticizing Cherfilus-McCormick, stating they prefer to await the ethics process conclusion. Possible sanctions include reprimands or censures, which constitute public rebukes. The committee might also impose financial penalties. Expulsion represents the harshest punishment, though the House traditionally hesitates to determine a lawmaker’s fate, preferring to leave that decision to voters.
Just six House members have faced expulsion throughout history. Three fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War and were removed for disloyalty. Two others had criminal convictions. George Santos, the scandal-ridden freshman subject to a scathing ethics report and federal charges, was the most recent. The New York Republican served prison time for defrauding campaign contributors before receiving clemency from President Donald Trump, and has apologized to former constituents.
Constitutional requirements mandate at least two-thirds of House members vote for expulsion, establishing a demanding standard requiring substantial bipartisan agreement.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., informed reporters last week he expects the House will vote to expel Cherfilus-McCormick.
“The facts are indisputable at this point, and so I believe it’ll be the consensus of this body that she should be expelled,” Johnson stated.
