Democratic congresswoman charged with stealing $5M in FEMA funds, making illegal campaign contributions: DOJ
Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, of Florida, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of stealing $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds, which she is accused of laundering to support her 2021 congressional campaign.
The indictment was announced by the Justice Department on Wednesday.
The indictment alleges Cherfilus-McCormick, 46, and her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, 51, received a $5 million overpayment in FEMA funds directed to their family health care company in connection with a contract for COVID-19 vaccination staffing in 2021.
Afterward, Cherfilus-McCormick and other co-defendants allegedly conspired to use the overpaid funds to benefit her campaign by routing it through multiple accounts to disguise its source, according to the DOJ.
They further are alleged to have arranged a series of straw donors that included their friends and relatives to funnel the COVID-19 contract money in the form of donations to her campaign.
"Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement announcing the indictment. "No one is above the law, least of all powerful people who rob taxpayers for personal gain. We will follow the facts in this case and deliver justice."
If convicted, Cherfilus-McCormick faces a maximum sentence of up to 53 years in prison.
Cherfilus-McCormick pushed back against what she called a "sham" indictment -- while proclaiming her innocence.
"This is an unjust, baseless, sham indictment -- and I am innocent,” she said in the statement released Thursday morning. "The timing alone is curious and clearly meant to distract from far more pressing national issues. From day one, I have fully cooperated with every lawful request, and I will continue to do so until this matter is resolved."
Cherfilus-McCormick added that she looks forward to her day in court and in the interim she will "continue fighting for my constituents."
She did not immediately have an attorney listed representing her on her case docket as of Wednesday evening.
The federal investigation into Cherfilus-McCormick dates back to the Biden administration, multiple current and former administration officials told ABC News.
The House Ethics Committee said publicly in January 2025 that it was also investigating Cherfilus-McCormick after receiving a referral from Office of Congressional Ethics in September 2023.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday evening, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Cherfilus-Mccormick is "innocent until proven guilty," when asked for his reaction to the indictment and said he had yet to speak with her but planned to do so.
Cherfilus-Mccormick will "take leave" from her position as ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa "while this matter is ongoing," Jeffries' spokesperson Christie Stephenson said in a statement.
House Republican Rep. Greg Steube of Florida said Thursday morning that he will "move straight to expulsion" after saying on Wednesday that he would file a resolution to censure his Democratic counterpart.
“Defrauding the federal government and disaster victims of $5 million is an automatic disqualifier from serving in elected office,” Steube posted on X. "Cherfilus-McCormick needs to be swiftly removed from the House before she can inflict any more harm on Congress, her district, and the State of Florida."
Steube said he will file a resolution later Thursday to expel his in-state political rival, as he called for her resignation.
"If she refuses to resign and save Congress the embarrassment of having to expel her, I will bring this resolution to the floor for a vote," he pledged.
ABC News' Katherine Faulders contributed to this report.
