0:41U.S. Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Democrat from Florida, delivers remarks following her swearing-in ceremony held within the Broward County Commission chambers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on January 27, 2025. Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Florida’s Democratic Representative, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, has been formally accused by a federal jury on allegations of misappropriating $5 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which she purportedly funneled to bolster her 2021 bid for Congress.
The Justice Department made the indictment public on Wednesday.
The formal charge asserts that Cherfilus-McCormick, aged 46, together with her brother Edwin Cherfilus, aged 51, obtained an excessive payment of $5 million in FEMA funds, earmarked for their family’s healthcare enterprise pertaining to an agreement for providing staff for COVID-19 vaccinations in 2021.
U.S. Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Democrat representing Florida, speaks after taking the oath of office during a ceremony held at the Broward County Commission chambers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on January 27, 2025.Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Subsequent to this, Cherfilus-McCormick and other individuals implicated in the crime supposedly colluded to leverage the overpaid monies to aid her campaign by channeling them through diverse accounts to conceal their origins, according to the DOJ.
It is further claimed that they orchestrated a sequence of proxy donors, including acquaintances and family members, to pass the funds from the COVID-19 contract as contributions to her campaign.
"Exploiting disaster assistance funds for private enrichment is an especially egocentric, callous infraction," stated Attorney General Pam Bondi in an announcement regarding the indictment. "Nobody is exempt from legal standards, especially influential figures who deprive taxpayers for individual advantage. We will pursue the facts diligently in this instance and ensure fairness prevails."
Should a conviction occur, Cherfilus-McCormick could be sentenced to a maximum of 53 years of imprisonment.
Cherfilus-McCormick refuted the accusation, terming it a "sham" – while asserting her innocence.
"This indictment is unjust, groundless, and a sham — and I maintain my innocence,” she articulated in a statement issued Thursday morning. "The timing by itself is peculiar and evidently intended to divert attention from considerably more crucial national matters. Since the onset, I have provided my full cooperation to every lawful request, and I pledge to persist until this issue attains resolution."
Cherfilus-McCormick also expressed eagerness for her court appearance and, in the meantime, affirmed she will "persist in advocating for my constituents."
As of Wednesday evening, there was no legal representative officially listed as counsel for her in her case record.
According to numerous present and former administrative officials who spoke with ABC News, the federal inquiry into Cherfilus-McCormick began during the Biden administration.
In January 2025, the House Ethics Committee made a public announcement stating they were also scrutinizing Cherfilus-McCormick after receiving a referral from the Office of Congressional Ethics in September 2023.
In comments to reporters on Wednesday evening, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated Cherfilus-Mccormick is "presumed innocent until guilt is established," when prompted for his reaction to the indictment, noting he had not yet conferred with her but intended to do so.
Jeffries' spokesperson, Christie Stephenson, communicated in a statement that Cherfilus-Mccormick will "step back" from her role as the senior member of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee overseeing the Middle East and North Africa "for the duration of this process."
On Thursday morning, House Republican Representative Greg Steube from Florida conveyed that he will "proceed directly to expulsion" after previously stating on Wednesday his intention to introduce a motion to censure his Democratic peer.
“Defrauding the federal government and victims of a disaster of $5 million is an automatic bar from holding elected office,” Steube declared on X. "Cherfilus-McCormick must be promptly dismissed from the House before she causes any further detriment to Congress, her constituency, and the State of Florida."
Steube indicated that he would introduce a resolution later on Thursday calling for the expulsion of his political rival from the same state, and he urged her to resign.
"If she declines to resign and spare Congress the indignity of having to expel her, I will table this resolution for consideration," he affirmed.
Katherine Faulders of ABC News contributed to this report.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
