Florida Rep Resigns Before Expulsion as Reelection Bid Continues

Clear Facts

• Democrat Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned from Congress after facing 18 campaign finance violations.
• The Florida Democrat filed for re-election just one week before stepping down from her House seat.
• Federal charges were filed against her for allegedly stealing $5 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned on Tuesday just as the House Ethics Committee prepared to recommend disciplinary action. Investigators found she allegedly funneled disaster relief funds through various companies to support her campaign efforts.

Multiple investigations revealed three counts of misusing official funds and five counts of false financial disclosures.

Despite the mounting evidence, the former representative maintains her innocence while continuing her bid for future office.

“This was not a fair process. The Ethics Committee refused my new attorney’s reasonable request for time to prepare my defense. I simply cannot stand by and allow my due process rights to be trampled on, and my good name to be tarnished,” Cherfilus-McCormick said in a press release.

“Rather than play these political games, I choose to step away so that I can devote my time to fighting for my neighbors in Florida’s 20th district. I hereby resign from the 119th Congress, effective immediately.”

Conservative leaders argue that this case highlights a lack of accountability within the current administration’s party. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to schedule a special election soon to fill the now-vacant seat.

A grand jury in Miami indicted Cherfilus-McCormick for the alleged theft of millions in FEMA funds.

While her resignation ends the House Ethics Committee jurisdiction, federal legal proceedings against the former Democrat lawmaker will continue.

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