BREAKING: Florida Dem Rep Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigns from Congress ahead of impending expulsion

Democrat Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has resigned from Congress as she has been accused of stealing FEMA funds for her political campaign. An expulsion vote was set to take place to remove the congresswoman. 

Cherfilus-McCormick said in a statement, "This was not a fair process. The Ethics Committee refused my new attorney's reasonable request for time to prepare my defense. By going forward with this process while a criminal indictment is pending, the Committee prevented me from defending myself. I will not stand by and pretend that this has been anything other than a witch hunt. I simply cannot stand by and allow my due process rights to be trampled on, and my good name to be tarnished. Rather than play these political games, I choose to step away so that I can devote my time to fighting for my neighbors in Florida's 20th district. I hereby resign from the 119th Congress, effective immediately."

"But let me say this plainly: we should be very careful about the precedent we are setting. In this country, we do not punish people before due process is complete. We do not allow allegations alone to override the will of the people. That is a dangerous path, and one that should concern every American, regardless of party. To my constituents, it has been the honor of my life fighting for you in the U.S. House of Representatives. Thank you for standing with me and fighting alongside me. This fight is far from over."

Last month, a House Ethics subcommittee reported that Cherfilus-McCormick was found guilty for allegedly funneling millions of dollars in FEMA funds to her congressional campaign in Florida's 20th Congressional District. She is also facing a criminal investigation because of the allegations. She is facing up to 50 years in prison if she is convicted.  

The DOJ accused her of laundering $5 million in FEMA funds that were allegedly overpaid to her family's healthcare company. Then those funds were allegedly laundered over to her campaign. 

In a statement from the Ethics subcommittee's report, the lawmakers said, "On March 26, 2026, the adjudicatory subcommittee in the matter of Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick held a public hearing to determine whether any counts in the Statement of Alleged Violations (SAV) had been proven by clear and convincing evidence. Following the hearing, the adjudicatory subcommittee moved into executive session to deliberate. After careful deliberation that lasted until well past midnight, the adjudicatory subcommittee found that Counts 1-15 and 17-26 of the SAV had been proven."

The Ethics subcommittee investigation into the congresswoman started in 2023. 

Cherfilus-McCormick is the third member of Congress to resign since April 13. Democrat lawmaker from California Eric Swalwell has resigned amid sexual assault allegations against him. Republican Rep. Tony Gonzalez, of Texas, has also resigned after an affair between him and a staffer was exposed. The staffer later committed suicide by lighting herself on fire.