Democratic Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, which has claimed that she violated federal campaign finance laws. The committee made the announcement on Wednesday.
Reps. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) will head up an investigative subcommittee, which the House panel unanimously approved. The House statement acknowledged that the matter had been initially brought forward by the Office of Congressional Ethics.
The investigation will examine whether Cherfilus-McCormick, 44, potentially violated campaign finance laws during her 2022 special election or regular election campaigns, failed to meet filing deadlines, or received unofficial assistance for official duties.
The Ethics panel stated that they will not provide any further public comments on this matter, except in accordance with Committee rules.
Cherfilus-McCormick, originally from Brooklyn, is a former health care executive who emerged victorious in the special election held in January 2022. This election was conducted to fill the seat left vacant by the passing of the esteemed Democratic Representative Alcee Hastings, who had dutifully represented Florida’s 20th Congressional District for nearly three decades.
Throughout that campaign, Cherfilus-McCormick raised concerns by personally lending her campaign over $6 million and subsequently reimbursing herself with approximately $2.5 million, as indicated by Federal Election Commission filings.
A significant portion of the repayment was made following her victory over her opponent in the special Democratic primary, with a narrow margin of just five votes, as reported by Florida Politics.
Cherfilus-McCormick emerged victorious in the general election held in November, securing a resounding victory over Republican candidate Drew Montez-Clark in the predominantly black district.
Based on her 2022 House financial disclosures, Cherfilus-McCormick reported having assets totaling up to $545,000, alongside a student loan balance ranging from $150,000 to $350,000.
Before his death in April 2021, the left-wing lawmaker twice challenged Hastings for the seat, attacking him in 2020 for having sex with a staff member and being investigated by the House ethics committee.
Before his death in April 2021, the left-wing lawmaker twice challenged Hastings for the seat, attacking him in 2020 for having sex with a staff member and being investigated by the House ethics committee.
Williams faced severe consequences in 1992 when a disciplinary panel discovered her mishandling of client funds, resulting in her disbarment.
Hastings was cleared of any wrongdoing in court regarding allegations of soliciting $150,000 in exchange for lenient sentencing of a pair of brothers on racketeering-related charges. Nevertheless, he faced impeachment by the House of Representatives in May 1989 for perjury and conspiracy, ultimately leading to his conviction by the Senate in October.
