Florida Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned from the House of Representatives on Tuesday as she faced likely expulsion for allegedly stealing $5 million in overpaid COVID-19 relief funds.
The South Florida lawmaker stepped down effective immediately over allegations she diverted payments made to her family’s health care business to her 2022 congressional campaign and to buy luxury items like a 3-carat yellow diamond ring.
Cherfilus-McCormick, who was indicted and is awaiting trial on federal criminal charges stemming from the same accusations, was losing support among Democratic colleagues and appeared likely to be expelled by a two-thirds vote as soon as Wednesday.
She avoided becoming the first lawmaker ousted from the House since Long Island Rep. George Santos (R-New York) was expelled over fraud and campaign finance accusations. Santos was later convicted but was freed from prison after being pardoned by President Trump.
Just last week, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-California) resigned from Congress after a string of women accused him of sexual assault and misconduct. He hasn’t been charged with any crime.
U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., left, speaks to the media as her lawyer David Markus looks on after a hearing in federal court Monday, Dec. 29, 2025 in Miami. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) quit on the same day. He admitted having an affair with an aide who later committed suicide by setting herself on fire.
Cherfilus-McCormick’s departure expands the slim Republican majority from four to five votes. That would give Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson a bit more breathing room as he seeks to enact President Trump’s agenda with a deeply divided GOP caucus.
It’s not immediately clear when or if Gov. Ron DeSantis would call a special election to fill her deep-blue FL-20 district near Fort Lauderdale.
The ethics panel already determined that Cherfilus-McCormick committed 25 violations of House rules and ethical standards, including breaking campaign finance laws.
She denies the charges and has pleaded not guilty in federal court.
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., condemns hate speech and misinformation about Haitian immigrants, at the Capitol in Washington, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
The allegations against the congresswoman center on how she received millions of dollars from her family’s health care business after Florida mistakenly overpaid the business by roughly $5 million with COVID-19 disaster relief funds. She is accused of using that money to fund her 2022 congressional campaign through a network of businesses and family members.
The resignation could turbocharge Democratic efforts to seek the ouster of Rep. Cory Mills, a Florida Republican who is accused of campaign finance violations and domestic violence.