Facing ethics reckoning, Florida Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick resigns from Congress

WASHINGTON (CN) — Florida Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick announced Tuesday that she would resign, becoming the third member of Congress to quit the chamber in a week.

The Democratic congresswoman, facing criminal charges related to accusations of stealing $5 million in disaster aid funds to finance her congressional campaign, said she would resign just moments before the House Ethics Committee was set to announce sanctions against her for violating the chamber’s code of conduct.

In a statement, Cherfilus-McCormick slammed the ethics panel for running what she described as an unfair investigation, pointing to the bipartisan committee’s recent refusal to press pause on its probe while her criminal indictment is pending and arguing she was not able to adequately defend herself.

“I will not stand by and pretend that this has been anything other than a witch hunt,” said Cherfilus-McCormick, who has denied the charges against her. “I simply cannot stand by and allow my due process rights to be trampled on and my good name to be tarnished.”

The Ethics Committee in March said it had found “clear and convincing evidence” to back up claims that Cherfilus-McCormick committed fraud. The panel since 2023 has investigated accusations that the congresswoman failed to report payments she made to a political action committee connected to her congressional campaign. And lawmakers have also probed claims made in her criminal indictment, which say she stole roughly $5 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, some of which she used to bankroll her initial run for Congress in 2021.

During an unusual public hearing in the Ethics Committee last month, Cherfilus-McCormick’s attorney pleaded with the panel to hold off on its probe as its conclusions might interfere with her criminal trial.

“This is not a criminal trial, and as such it’s going to have different standards of proof involved,” attorney William Barzee said at the time. “It’s not going to be decided by a jury of her peers — it will be decided by members of the committee and the full House.”

Cherfilus-McCormick on Tuesday warned about what she said was a “precedent” set by the ethics panel’s move to announce House sanctions while her criminal case was ongoing.

“In this country, we do not punish people before due process is complete,” she wrote. “We do not allow allegations to override the will of the people. This is a dangerous path, and one that should concern every American, regardless of party.”

Cherfilus-McCormick will leave her role representing Florida’s 20th Congressional District immediately, she said.

Had she not given up her seat, the House was widely expected to consider an expulsion resolution against the congresswoman that likely would have seen her removed from the chamber by force. Though the threat of such a vote appears to have dissipated, Cherfilus-McCormick must still contend with her criminal trial, where she faces charges of money laundering and making illegal campaign contributions.

If found guilty, she faces up to 53 years in prison.

Cherfilus-McCormick is the third House member to resign from Congress in the past seven days. California Representative Eric Swalwell stepped away from the chamber last week amid accusations of sexual assault and inappropriate relationships with his congressional staffers. Swalwell, who has denied claims of sexual assault but has admitted he made “mistakes” in his past, was also forced to abandon his candidacy for California governor.

Closely following Swalwell’s resignation was that of Texas Representative Tony Gonzales, who has admitted to an inappropriate relationship with one of his former staff members. Gonzales reportedly solicited explicit photographs from the staffer, who later died by suicide. The Texas Republican has since been accused of similar conduct with other employees.

Lawmakers are also weighing a possible expulsion resolution against Florida Representative Cory Mills, who faces similar accusations of inappropriate relationships with a House staffer. Mills has denied wrongdoing.

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