Florida Democrat Congresswoman Found Guilty of Corruption Charges

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick faces possible expulsion from Congress after ethics panel finds her guilty of multiple violations.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 3:09am

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A bipartisan House Ethics Committee panel has found Florida Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick guilty of a range of corruption charges, including laundering millions in disaster relief funds into her campaign account, filing false financial disclosures, and seeking special favors with earmark funding. The committee is expected to recommend punishment, with expulsion from Congress being the most severe option.

Why it matters

The allegations against Cherfilus-McCormick are extremely serious and go to the heart of public trust in Congress. If the findings are upheld, it could lead to the rare expulsion of a sitting member of the House, further eroding confidence in government institutions.

The details

The House Ethics Committee conducted a rare public hearing on Thursday that lasted nearly six hours, grilling Cherfilus-McCormick's attorney over the allegations. The panel found the congresswoman guilty on 24 of the 26 counts, including using ineligible funds to finance her campaign, repeatedly filing false financial disclosure forms, and seeking 'special favors' with recipients of earmark funding requests. Cherfilus-McCormick is also facing a separate federal indictment for allegedly misappropriating over $5 million in disaster relief funds improperly paid to her family's healthcare company, which she and her siblings then used to assist her congressional campaign and for personal use.

  • The House Ethics Committee began investigating Cherfilus-McCormick about two years prior to the 2025 federal indictment.
  • The public ethics hearing was held on Thursday, March 28, 2026.
  • The committee is expected to reconvene after the Easter recess to determine its recommended punishment for Cherfilus-McCormick.

The players

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

A two-term Democratic Congresswoman from Florida who was found guilty of corruption charges by a bipartisan House Ethics Committee panel.

Rep. Greg Steube

A Republican Congressman from Florida who has said he will move forward with a resolution to expel Cherfilus-McCormick from Congress, regardless of the Ethics Committee's recommended punishment.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries

The House Minority Leader, who has thus far stood by Cherfilus-McCormick despite the allegations.

Rep. Mark Desaulnier

A Democratic Congressman from California who said the allegations against Cherfilus-McCormick are 'extremely serious' and 'implicate the public's confidence in the House's integrity as an institution.'

Rep. Michael Guest

The Republican Chair of the House Ethics Committee, who admonished Cherfilus-McCormick's attorney for claiming the committee was trampling on her client's rights.

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What they’re saying

“For you to sit here and make the claim that we, the committee, are trying to trample upon the rights of your client. I take offense to that.”

— Rep. Michael Guest, Chair, House Ethics Committee

“The allegations before us are extremely serious. They not only concern an individual member's conduct, but they also implicate the public's confidence in the House's integrity as an institution.”

— Rep. Mark Desaulnier, Democratic Congressman from California

What’s next

The House Ethics Committee is expected to reconvene after the Easter recess to determine its recommended punishment for Cherfilus-McCormick, with expulsion from Congress being the most severe option. Fellow Florida Congressman Greg Steube has said he will move forward with a resolution to expel Cherfilus-McCormick regardless of the committee's decision.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges of upholding ethical standards and public trust in Congress, especially when it comes to allegations of corruption and misuse of taxpayer funds. The potential expulsion of a sitting member would be a rare and significant event, underscoring the gravity of the charges against Cherfilus-McCormick.