Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick stripped of House leadership role
Broward Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick will be stripped of her leadership position in the U.S. House of Representatives as she awaits trial for charges announced Wednesday accusing the Democrat of stealing $5 million in federal disaster relief funds and redirecting a portion of it toward her 2021 congressional campaign.
A Florida House Republican is also trying to force a vote to expel her from Congress entirely over the charges, like the House did to New York Republican Rep. George Santos in 2023.
But that resolution — brought by Sarasota Republican Rep. Greg Steube — can’t pass without the support of at least 70 Democrats. He’s unlikely to garner that kind of support. Leader Hakeem Jeffries defended the congresswoman in a statement Thursday morning.
“Consistent with the United States Constitution, she is entitled to her day in court and the presumption of innocence,” Jeffries spokesperson Christie Stephenson said.
In the meantime, she is being placed on leave from her role as ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, pursuant to House Democratic Caucus rules, according to Stephenson.
The move comes after a federal grand jury in Miami indicted the congresswoman on fraud charges, as the Department of Justice announced Wednesday evening.
The indictment has not been publicly released on the court’s filing portal, but according to the DOJ’s announcement, Cherfilus-McCormick is being accused of stealing $5 million in federal disaster relief funds and rerouting them into her congressional campaign through straw donors and other means. Her brother and two associates are also accused of fraud-related charges.
Financial misconduct allegations have dogged her since she won the seat during a 2021 special primary election by just five votes. The House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into whether she violated campaign finance laws in late 2023.
In June of this year, the Office of Congressional Ethics recommended further investigation “because there is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick requested community project funding that would be directed to a for-profit entity” and “probable cause” that she “accepted campaign contributions linked to an official action.”
The congresswoman and her attorneys have indicated they plan to fight the charges.
“From day one, I have cooperated with every lawful request, and I will continue to do so until this matter is resolved,” she said in a statement to the Herald late Wednesday. “I look forward to my day in court. Until then, I will continue fighting for my constituents.”
This article has been updated to correct information about Rep. Greg Steube. The Republican congressman is from Sarasota.
This story was originally published November 20, 2025 at 11:56 AM.
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