Chicago – April 21, 2026
Florida Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned from Congress on Tuesday, stepping down just before the House Ethics Committee was set to consider sanctions over campaign finance and ethics violations. The move followed allegations that she misused federal disaster funds and helped direct money into her 2021 campaign.
The ethics panel had previously found clear evidence of multiple violations, according to reporting from NPR and other outlets. Cherfilus-McCormick has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to separate federal criminal charges tied to the alleged diversion of FEMA-linked funds.
In a statement, she said the ethics process was unfair and claimed she was being denied adequate time to prepare her defense. By resigning, she avoided a likely House expulsion vote and ended the committee’s jurisdiction over her case.
Her departure adds to a turbulent period in the House, where ethics, campaign finance, and criminal allegations have become a major political distraction.
