Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Resigns from US House Ahead of Ethics Committee Sanctions

Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida resigned from the US House of Representatives on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, moments before the House Ethics Committee was set to determine sanctions against her. The resignation was read into the House record shortly after the committee convened, prompting Chairman Michael Guest to state that the panel had lost jurisdiction and would not proceed with sanctions.

Cherfilus-McCormick posted a statement on social media denouncing the ethics process as a witch hunt and stating, 'I simply cannot stand by and allow my due process rights to be trampled on, and my good name to be tarnished. ' In another part of her statement, she added, 'This was not a fair process.

Rather than play these political games, I choose to step away so that I can devote my time to fighting for my neighbors in Florida's 20th district.

' She also informed House Speaker Mike Johnson of her decision, stating, 'After careful reflection and prayer, I have concluded that it is in the best interest of my constituents and the institution that I step aside at this time. ' The House Ethics Committee had found Cherfilus-McCormick guilty of 25 ethics violations last month, including failures to comply with Federal Election Commission regulations and the Code of Ethics for Government Service.

The committee's adjudicatory subcommittee held a public hearing on March 27, 2026, determining that 25 of 27 allegations were proven, related to stealing federal disaster funds for her 2021 campaign.

Cherfilus-McCormick appeared before the committee for a public hearing on April 20, 2026, to address the allegations. The committee's investigation, which began in 2023 after a referral from the Office of Congressional Ethics, involved sending 30 requests for information, issuing 59 subpoenas, conducting 28 witness interviews, and reviewing over 33,000 pages of documents.

The panel released a report in January 2026 detailing inaccurate and incomplete campaign finance reports across several election cycles, including improper contributions reported as personal loans, acceptance of improper contributions, and inflated cash-on-hand numbers.

The report also found substantial evidence of conduct consistent with federal indictment allegations, including spending FEMA funds on luxury goods such as jewelry and designer clothing. Separately, the Justice Department indicted Cherfilus-McCormick in November 2025 on charges of stealing and laundering nearly $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds.

Prosecutors alleged that her family's company, Trinity Healthcare Services, received a $5 million overpayment from FEMA through a Covid-19 vaccination contract, which she and her brother routed through multiple accounts to fund her 2022 special election campaign.

14-carat yellow diamond ring. She pleaded not guilty to the federal charges, which could result in more than 50 years in prison if she is convicted. Her federal trial, originally set for this year, was delayed until February 2027.

During the March 2026 ethics hearing, her lawyer William Barzee argued that committee action would jeopardize her right to a fair trial, stating, 'How can she possibly go into court and have a fair trial if her jurors have already heard that she was found guilty by the House of Representatives?

' Cherfilus-McCormick stated last month that she was limited in addressing issues due to the federal case and welcomed setting the record straight when legally able. She also stated last week that she had no intention of resigning and intended to focus on her work in Congress.

Republican Rep. Greg Steube of Florida had held off on forcing a vote to remove her until after the committee's recommendation. Removal would have required a two-thirds House vote, needing at least 70 Democrats if all Republicans supported it.

The committee had six types of sanctions available, including expulsion and fines, and has recommended expulsion only four times in over 50 years. Cherfilus-McCormick is the third House member to resign in the past week. Democratic Rep.

Eric Swalwell of California and Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas resigned on April 14, 2026, ahead of expected expulsion votes over sexual misconduct allegations. Her resignation leaves Florida's 20th district without representation until a special election, providing Republicans a temporary advantage in the House's narrow majority.