U.S. Representative Sheila Charfilas-McCormick (left) appeared in Miami federal court on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, but did not enter a plea to charges that she stole $5 million in federal disaster relief funds.
Pedro Portal | Tribune News Service | Getty Images
Rep. Sheila Cherfils McCormick resigned from the House effective Tuesday, less than an hour before the start of the Ethics Committee meeting to discuss what sanctions to impose on the Florida Democratic Party for violating more than 20 House rules and ethics standards.
Charfilas McCormick, 47, becomes the third member of Congress to resign since April 13.
On April 13, California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell and Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzalez announced they would resign over separate allegations of sexual misconduct.
Cherifilas McCormick is facing an ongoing criminal case in Miami federal district court for allegedly stealing $5 million in COVID-19 disaster relief funds earmarked for her family’s health care business, some of which was allegedly donated to her 2022 congressional campaign.
The Ethics Commission’s own case against her is related to her use of campaign funds. The lawmaker faced a potential vote in the House of Commons on whether to expel her after the Ethics Committee imposed sanctions.
Before resigning, Cherifilas McCormick was seeking re-election to a fourth term representing Florida’s 20th Congressional District.
In her resignation statement published in
“By proceeding with this process while criminal charges were pending, the commission prevented me from defending myself,” Charfilas McCormick said. “I’m not going to sit by and act like this is anything other than a witch hunt.”
“I cannot stand by and allow my due process rights to be trampled upon and my reputation tarnished.”
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