The House Ethics Committee found Democratic Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida guilty of 25 ethics violations in a unanimous ruling that sets the stage for potential expulsion from Congress. The bipartisan panel voted after a seven-hour hearing that extended into early Friday morning on March 27, 2026.

From Relief Funds to Campaign Dollars

The violations center on accusations that Cherfilus-McCormick received millions of dollars through her family’s health care business after Florida mistakenly overpaid roughly $5 million in COVID-19 disaster relief funds. House investigators claim she funneled this money into her successful 2022 congressional campaign through a network of businesses and family members, portraying her campaign as self-financed when it was not. The congresswoman declined to testify during the Thursday hearing, invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

Beyond the ethics violations, Cherfilus-McCormick faces federal criminal charges for allegedly stealing the $5 million in disaster relief funds and using them for personal purchases, including a 3-carat yellow diamond ring. Her brother, the former chief of staff, and the accountant were also charged in the federal case. She has pleaded not guilty to all criminal charges, with trial expected to begin within months. The ethics committee will recommend punishment in the coming weeks.

Republican Push for Expulsion

The ethics panel’s ruling could fuel Republican efforts to expel Cherfilus-McCormick from Congress, creating a potential divide within the Democratic caucus as it attempts to regain congressional power in the November 2026 midterm elections. The congresswoman is currently running for a fourth term representing her southeastern Florida district. Her attorney, William Barzee, sharply criticized the proceedings as the first open ethics hearing in nearly 15 years, arguing the panel should have allowed a full trial where he could present witnesses and evidence to counter House investigators’ conclusions.

What This Means

The committee examined 27 alleged violations detailed in a 242-page report based primarily on bank records. Barzee accused the panel of rushing to judgment to support efforts to remove a duly elected representative from office. The case highlights ongoing concerns about disaster relief fund oversight and accountability in Congress. With both ethics violations confirmed and criminal charges pending, Cherfilus-McCormick faces the most serious congressional accountability measures since the ethics committee last held public hearings over a decade ago.