Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Democrat from Florida, faces federal charges in a shocking case involving the alleged theft of $5 million in FEMA disaster relief funds for illegal campaign contributions. The indictment, announced by the Department of Justice, accuses the congresswoman of conspiring with her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, and several co-defendants to siphon millions of dollars in disaster relief funds through multiple accounts, allegedly to conceal the origin of the money. Prosecutors allege that a significant portion of the funds were diverted to finance Cherfilus-McCormick’s 2021 congressional campaign or for personal use. If convicted, she could face up to 53 years in prison. The case has drawn sharp condemnation from federal officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, who called the act ‘a particularly selfish, cynical crime.’ Bondi emphasized that ‘no one is above the law,’ highlighting the Department of Justice’s commitment to pursuing justice for the alleged misuse of public funds.
The indictment also details how the defendants allegedly used a FEMA-funded COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract operated through their family healthcare company to launder the misappropriated funds. The company, which received an overpayment of $5 million in FEMA funds in July 2021, was reportedly used as a conduit to funnel the money to Cherfilus-McCormick and her associates. The charges state that Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother were involved in routing the funds through multiple accounts to obscure their source, making it easier to use the money for personal benefit or campaign contributions. The case has also implicated other co-defendants, including Nadege Leblanc, who allegedly fixed campaign contributions through straw donors, channeling funds from the FEMA contract to associates who made contributions to Cherfilus-McCormick’s campaign.
Republican lawmakers have strongly condemned the allegations, with Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., vowing to file a motion to censure Cherfilus-McCormick and remove her from all committees. He called the case ‘one of the most egregious abuses of public trust I have ever seen.’ The Republican Party of Florida also joined the call for her resignation, describing the allegations as ‘absolutely disgusting.’ Cherfilus-McCormick’s office has not yet responded to requests for comment, leaving the public to rely on the indictment and statements from federal officials for a comprehensive understanding of the case. The charges stem from a 2023 probe by the House Ethics Committee, which investigated campaign finance violations tied to her 2022 election campaign. Despite the allegations, she was re-elected to a third term in Congress in 2024, currently serving on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.