After the House Ethics Committee announced it found over two dozen instances of “serious financial crimes” against Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., announced on Thursday night he will be filing a resolution to expel the congresswoman.
“In November, I filed a resolution to expel [Cherfilus-McCormick] following her indictment by the DOJ,” Steube posted on X. “Today’s House Ethics findings detail more than two dozen counts of serious financial crimes. When we return to Washington, I’ll call up a resolution to expel her from Congress.”
The Department of Justice previously charged Cherfilus-McCormick for allegedly stealing over $5 million in COVID-19 disaster relief funds and making illegal campaign contributions. If convicted, she could face upwards of 53 years in prison.
The Ethics Committee dug through over 33,000 documents, conducted 28 witness interviews, and released a 59-page statement of alleged violations totaling over two dozen crimes and over $5 million in stolen funds.
The committee will hold a hearing on March 5. It is still unclear if Cherfilus-McCormick will be forced to appear and testify.
The committee found that the congresswoman received overpayments originally from FEMA but paid out through the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Instead of returning the overpaid money, Cherfilus-McCormick allegedly laundered it through her own consulting firm and family members’ LLC’s.
Cherfilus-McCormick allegedly used some of the funds to make illegal contributions to her 2021 congressional campaign, purchase designer merchandise at Tiffany & Co., Tesla, and on luxury travel as well.
The congresswoman will also appear in court in Miami for the same crimes. A federal judge has rescheduled the arraignment twice. As of now she is set to appear on Feb. 3.
“I reject these allegations and remain confident the full facts will make clear I did nothing wrong,” said the congresswoman in a statement claiming she is not guilty.
Expelling the congresswoman would require a 2/3 vote. Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies, D-N.Y., says, “it’s going to fail.”
Cherfilus-McCormick could not be reached for a comment.
In December 2023, the House in a bipartisan vote expelled George Santos, R-N.Y., following his indictment on multiple federal charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft. Santos was the first member of Congress expelled in over 20 years.
