A Miami federal judge has set a late January trial date for U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and three co-defendants accused of stealing $5 million in government relief funds.
In an order filed Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles set a date in his downtown Miami courtroom for the two-week period starting Jan. 26, 2026. He also set a calendar call for Jan. 21.
It was not immediately clear, however, that the defense will be ready to go to court as the congresswoman has yet to formally retain a lawyer. None of the attorneys in the case had formally responded to Judge Gayles’ order by late Tuesday.
On Monday, U.S. Magistrate Lisette Reid agreed during a brief hearing in Miami to postpone the congresswoman’s arraignment until Jan. 20 so Cherfilus-McCormick could arrange representation. Since the congresswoman’s indictment in late November, she has been temporarily represented by Miami attorney David Markus and three other lawyers from the firm of Markus/Moss.
Cherfilus-McCormick appeared before Reid with Markus and co-counsel Melissa Madrigal as her lawyers on Monday.
Reid granted the arraignment delay after hearing no objections from federal prosecutors Yeney Hernandez and John Taddei.
“For her to have the attorney of her choice, we’ll put on the record that it’s a reasonable period of delay,” the judge said, referring to the congresswoman.
The congresswoman was indicted by a federal grand jury and accused of using FEMA money to support her 2021 congressional campaign. Overall, she is charged with 15 federal counts, including theft of government funds, money laundering, straw donor campaign contributions, false tax statements, and conspiracy.
Cherfilus-McCormick’s brother, Edwin; her chief of staff, Nadege Leblanc; and a tax preparer, David Spencer, are also charged in the case. All three co-defendants have lawyers. Edwin Cherfilus is represented by the federal public defender’s office, according to court files.
Markus told Judge Reid his group is working “very hard” to arrange legal representation. He said the arraignment delay “should give us enough time to make arrangements to come in permanently to the case.”
But no reference was made of going to trial within a month’s time.
After the hearing concluded Monday, the congresswoman reiterated to reporters outside a downtown courthouse that she is innocent and looks forward to being cleared.