The Republican Party of Florida officially launched a statewide petition on Wednesday, targeting Florida’s Democratic congressional delegation following the federal indictment of Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.
The congresswoman faces allegations regarding the theft of more than $5 million in FEMA disaster-relief funds, which federal prosecutors say were diverted from COVID-19 relief to bankroll her 2021 campaign and pay for personal luxuries, including a reported $109,000 diamond ring.
The new petition specifically calls on Democratic Representatives Jared Moskowitz, Darren Soto, Maxwell Frost, and Kathy Castor to take a formal stance on the matter.
It asks these members of Congress if they will call for Cherfilus-McCormick’s immediate resignation pending her trial, support her potential expulsion if recommended by the Ethics Committee, and demand she be stripped of committee assignments while the legal process unfolds.
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“Florida taxpayers deserve answers, not silence,” Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power stated regarding the launch. “These are serious allegations of stealing disaster-relief funds meant for people in need. If Florida Democrats refuse to call for accountability, they are choosing to protect one of their own instead of standing with the people they represent.”
While the Republican leadership has framed the silence of Florida Democrats as a lack of accountability, the targeted representatives have not yet issued formal statements regarding the petition or the specific demands for resignation.
The GOP initiative is encouraging Florida residents to sign the petition and contact their representatives directly to demand a public response.
The indictment remains a legal proceeding, and the petition asserts that the current lack of comment from across the aisle is unacceptable to Florida families who rely on disaster-relief funding during times of crisis.
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