The 47-year-old Democrat had been indicted in November before a federal court in Florida, accused – along with her brother and others – of diverting $5 million of federal funds in 2021.
Democratic congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned on Tuesday, just minutes before the announcement of disciplinary recommendations by a parliamentary committee that had found her guilty of diverting federal funds to her campaign coffers.
The now former Florida representative is the third member of the American House of Representatives to resign in just over a week, amidst a series of scandals involving both Democratic and Republican members.
In a statement posted on social media, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick continued to deny the accusations and criticized the congressional procedure as “unfair.” In late March, she faced a public trial before the House Ethics Committee. Both Republican and Democratic members found that 25 of the 27 charges against Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick had been “clearly and convincingly” proven.
The 47-year-old lawmaker had been indicted in November before a federal court in Florida, accused – along with her brother and others – of diverting $5 million of federal funds in 2021. These funds were initially sent to a company she managed by mistake as part of a contract related to the Covid-19 vaccination campaign.
Accused of money laundering
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is accused of laundering part of these misappropriated funds to finance her successful congressional campaign in 2021. Her trial, scheduled to begin in April, has recently been postponed to February 2027. She faces up to 53 years in prison. In the House, she was facing expulsion proceedings and ultimately chose to resign.
Her resignation follows those announced on April 13 by California Democrat Eric Swalwell — who faces accusations of rape and inappropriate behavior towards staff members — and Texas Republican Tony Gonzales, who recently admitted to having an extramarital relationship with a staffer who later took her own life.
Sheila Cherfilus McCormick’s departure now shines the spotlight on Republican lawmaker Cory Mills, who is under investigation by the Ethics Committee for alleged sexual misconduct and violations of campaign finance regulations. The Florida congressman denies these allegations. The U.S. House of Representatives now has 218 Republican members to 213 Democrats.
