House Ethics Committee Uncovers Violations by Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick
In an uncommon public proceeding, the House Ethics Committee has determined that Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick committed multiple ethics violations. The Florida Democrat, who has been under investigation for two years, faces serious allegations of financial misconduct.
The bipartisan committee found substantial evidence supporting 25 out of the 27 charges against her. This decision follows the congresswoman’s recent plea of not guilty to federal charges, which accuse her of misappropriating federal relief funds to finance her 2021 campaign.
Typically, investigations of this nature are conducted privately, but this case saw a public hearing—something Cherfilus-McCormick’s legal team tried to prevent. Her attorney, William Barzee, argued that the hearing should be postponed until the conclusion of her criminal trial, citing concerns about influencing potential jurors.
WILLIAM BARZEE: If they hear that she’s already been found guilty, how can she have a fair trial?
Despite these objections, the committee, comprising equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats, proceeded with the public session. During the hearing, committee lawyers presented evidence of various violations, including improper fund receipt and the mixing of personal and campaign finances. Flow charts displayed alleged fund transfers from the congresswoman’s family’s business and the Haitian government to her campaign.
Barzee defended his client by referencing a profit-sharing agreement as justification for the funds she received. However, this document was reportedly unsigned, drawing criticism from Congressman Nathaniel Moran.
NATHANIEL MORAN: If, in fact, your client was entitled to that under a profit-sharing agreement, I would think Day 1, I would say, hey, give me the signed profit-sharing agreement, let me turn it over. And your client, in two years, has not done that.
Brittney Pescatore, the subcommittee’s director of investigations, noted that Cherfilus-McCormick had ample opportunity to engage with the inquiry but opted not to participate.
BRITTNEY PESCATORE: She has also been provided with every opportunity throughout the two-year investigation because the investigation is not a prosecution. It’s an effort by her colleagues to understand what happened.
As the hearing proceeded, Barzee continued to contest the committee’s conclusions, leading to a notable exchange with Congressman Suhas Subramanyam.
BARZEE: And we would ask for an opportunity to have them heard in public through cross-examination and the calling of witnesses.
SUHAS SUBRAMANYAM: You are aware of that you could’ve called witnesses today, right?
BARZEE: I – yes.
Looking ahead to April, the committee plans to propose a penalty for Cherfilus-McCormick, which the full House will vote on. Potential repercussions range from censure to committee removal, or even expulsion, which would require a two-thirds majority vote. Calls for her expulsion have already emerged from both sides of the aisle.
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