House Ethics Panel Holds Rare Public Hearing on Democrat's Conduct

Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick accused of stealing $5 million in FEMA money for her campaign

Mar. 27, 2026 at 1:19am

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The House Ethics Committee has opened a rare public hearing into the conduct of Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who is accused of embezzling $5 million in federal disaster relief funds to support her congressional campaign. The ethics trial is the first such public proceeding in 16 years, as the committee typically operates in secrecy. Cherfilus-McCormick's attorney argued the public hearing would taint her ability to receive a fair criminal trial, but the bipartisan panel rejected the motion to delay the proceedings.

Why it matters

The case highlights the House Ethics Committee's rare use of public hearings to investigate alleged misconduct by sitting lawmakers, which is seen as an effort to uphold public confidence in the institution. The allegations against Cherfilus-McCormick, if proven true, would represent a serious breach of the public trust.

The details

The House Ethics Committee is holding a public hearing into allegations that Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Florida Democrat, stole $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds to finance her congressional campaign. Cherfilus-McCormick's attorney argued the public proceedings would taint her ability to receive a fair criminal trial, as she faces a federal indictment on the charges, but the bipartisan panel rejected the motion to delay. The last such public ethics trial was in 2010, when the committee found Representative Charles B. Rangel guilty of 11 violations.

  • The House Ethics Committee opened the public hearing on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
  • Cherfilus-McCormick was charged by the Justice Department in November 2025 with stealing the FEMA funds.

The players

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

A Democratic Congresswoman from Florida who is accused of embezzling $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) money to support her congressional campaign.

William Barzee

The attorney representing Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who argued the public congressional proceedings would taint her ability to have a fair criminal trial.

Mark DeSaulnier

The ranking Democratic member of the House Ethics Committee, who noted the allegations before the panel are "extremely serious" and "implicate the public's confidence in the House's integrity as an institution."

Elijah Manley

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick's primary opponent, who said it's important for the district to have "some eyes into this process" and expressed disappointment over the allegations.

Jasmine Crockett

A Democratic Congresswoman from Texas and fellow member of the Congressional Black Caucus, who attended a portion of the public hearing even though she is not on the Ethics Committee.

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What they’re saying

“You're going to have members of the public who are also potential jurors in a criminal matter hearing about facts they otherwise would never be exposed to. That's a major, major risk.”

— William Barzee, Attorney representing Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

“The allegations before us are extremely serious. They also implicate the public's confidence in the House's integrity as an institution.”

— Mark DeSaulnier, Ranking Democratic member of the House Ethics Committee

“It's important for the district to have some eyes into this process. We had high hopes for her; we're disappointed.”

— Elijah Manley, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick's primary opponent

What’s next

The House Ethics Committee is expected to continue its proceedings in the coming weeks, which could lead to a full House vote on Cherfilus-McCormick's case.

The takeaway

The rare public hearing by the House Ethics Committee underscores the seriousness of the allegations against Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick and the panel's efforts to uphold public trust in the institution, even as it typically operates in secrecy on such matters.