A growing number of House Democrats are calling on Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) to resign after the House Ethics Committee found her guilty of dozens of charges, including serious financial misconduct. The Ethics Committee said Friday they found 25 of the 27 charges against her were "proven by clear and convincing evidence." Cherfilus-McCormick is also under federal indictment.
The allegations center on accusations that she laundered $5 million in government disaster relief funds and funneled them into her campaign. These serious financial misconduct charges have made some Democrats increasingly uncomfortable with her continued presence in Congress. The nature of the allegations involves misuse of taxpayer funds intended for disaster relief.
More than half a dozen House Democrats now say they think Cherfilus-McCormick should resign, with some indicating willingness to vote for expulsion. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) said Cherfilus-McCormick "should resign or be removed" and would vote to expel her. Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) said her resignation would "be easier for everyone" and suggested he would vote to expel if necessary.
The House Ethics Committee is set to meet when Congress returns in mid-April to vote on recommending punitive action, which could include fines, censure, or expulsion. Cherfilus-McCormick said in a Friday statement that she looks forward to "proving my innocence" and remains focused on serving Florida's 20th District. The pressure for her ouster creates substantial new political challenges for the embattled representative.