The House Ethics Committee delivered a crushing blow to Democratic Florida Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick on Friday, finding her guilty of 25 out of 27 counts related to massive campaign finance violations and the misuse of emergency government funds.
The ruling followed a marathon seven-hour public hearing on Thursday where the bipartisan panel scrutinized her rise to office and the money that fueled it.
According to the committee’s findings, Cherfilus-McCormick funneled $5 million in COVID-19 emergency relief funds through her family’s businesses to bankroll her 2021 special election campaign.
That race, which she won to replace the late Representative Alcee Hastings, is now at the center of a web of allegations involving money laundering and illegal in-kind contributions. The panel also concluded that she failed to document support from an organization tied to her former campaign manager.
READ: Florida Congresswoman’s Seven-Hour Ethics Marathon Could Signal Rare House Expulsion
While the congresswoman remained silent during the proceedings, the fallout was immediate. Representative Greg Steube, a fellow Florida Republican, took to social media on Thursday night to demand her removal from office.
“Money laundering. False statements. Illegal campaign contributions. Hiding financial disclosures. And Democrats still defend this?” Steube posted. “This is disgraceful. The American people deserve better than corruption in Congress. I’m ready to expel Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick!”
The ethics ruling is only the beginning of the congresswoman’s legal troubles. She was indicted by the Department of Justice back in November and currently faces 15 federal charges.
If convicted in court, she could be sentenced to up to 53 years in prison. Her federal trial is expected to kick off next month and will likely dominate her schedule through the summer.
The House Ethics Committee will meet again after the Easter recess to decide what specific sanctions to recommend against her.
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