Nationwide — Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has resigned from Congress ahead of a House Ethics Committee hearing after ethics violations and a federal indictment tied to FEMA funds. The resignation halted possible sanctions and expulsion proceedings.
According to ABC News, the Florida Democrat left office just before a rare public hearing by the House Ethics Committee. The panel was preparing to consider punishment after finding 25 ethics violations, including improper campaign donations and mixing campaign and personal finances.
The case also included a federal indictment filed in November 2025. Prosecutors alleged she stole $5 million in FEMA funds and funneled the money into her 2021 congressional campaign. She denied the allegations and said the issue stemmed from an accounting error.
In her resignation letter, Cherfilus-McCormick called the investigation a “witch hunt.” She said the ethics probe and criminal case made it impossible for her to defend herself properly and claimed her due process rights were being violated.
Michael Guest, chair of the House Ethics Committee, read her resignation letter during a brief session. He said the committee lost jurisdiction over the matter and defended the investigation as careful and detailed due to the complexity of the case.
Mark DeSaulnier, the ranking Democrat on the committee, also spoke during the meeting. He said members were frustrated with the outcome but still respected the work done throughout the investigation.
Before her resignation, Greg Steube planned to push for a vote to expel her from the House. House Speaker Mike Johnson had previously said expulsion could be appropriate, while Democratic leadership prepared to review how to respond to any bipartisan recommendation from the Ethics Committee.
Her resignation came during a week when two other House members also stepped down amid separate controversies. Expulsion from Congress is rare and requires a two-thirds vote. Only a small number of lawmakers have ever been removed, with the most recent being George Santos in 2023.
After she resigned, Steube called on the Department of Justice to pursue prison time, saying the case reflects accountability for elected officials.