florida democrats Sheila Cherfelers-McCormick She announced she would resign from Congress following an ethics investigation and an ongoing criminal case related to the alleged misuse of federal disaster relief funds.
The third-term congressman, who has pleaded not guilty, faces multiple charges that investigators say were involved in a scheme to improperly use millions of government funds.
How much does it cost?
according to U.S. Department of JusticeChelfiles-McCormick has been indicted on charges including fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors accused her of embezzling up to $5 million in federal funds for personal use and political gain.
Related funds and Coronavirus disease has a vaccinator contract with her family’s health care company.
Authorities said the money came from overpayments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
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The Justice Department said in its filing that the congresswoman and her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, “conspired to steal the $5 million and move the funds through multiple accounts to conceal their origin.” The funds were then allegedly used to support her 2021 congressional campaign and personal expenses.
Cherfilus-McCormick was indicted in November and is expected to go to trial in Miami next year.
What did the ethics investigation find?
A separate investigation by the U.S. House Ethics Committee found that Cherfilus-McCormick violated 25 ethics rules over a two-year investigation.
The committee described an extensive investigation that included issuing 59 subpoenas, conducting 28 witness interviews, sending 30 requests for information and reviewing more than 33,000 pages of documents.
Lawmakers said the case raises broader concerns about agency integrity. Rep. Marc DeSaulnier noted that the accusations “suggest public confidence in the integrity of the House as an institution.”
political pressure
Calls for her resignation have grown louder since the ethics findings were made public, with pressure coming from both parties.
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez said in a statement that “you cannot obtain legal power through crime,” adding that Cherfelers-McCormick should step down or be removed from office.
However, several political and faith-based groups in Florida urged lawmakers not to expel her, arguing it would deprive voters of representation.
Her resignation will leave her seat vacant until voters choose a replacement.
