Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) resigned from Congress Tuesday afternoon, effectively halting a historic House Ethics Committee vote that would have recommended her expulsion. The Florida Democrat’s departure occurred just 20 minutes before the committee convened, marking the third high-profile House resignation in less than two weeks.
A Narrow Escape from History
The Ethics Committee was prepared to vote on Cherfilus-McCormick’s removal following a three-year investigation and a recent guilty verdict on 25 counts in a public ethics trial. Had the House voted to oust her, she would have been only the seventh member in U.S. history to be expelled.
Committee Chair Michael Guest (R-MS) read the resignation letter into the congressional record at 2:08 p.m. ET. Because Cherfilus-McCormick is no longer a sitting member, the committee lost jurisdiction, and the recommendation vote was canceled.
Allegations of Financial Fraud
The investigation centered on the alleged theft of $5 million in federal disaster relief funds. Federal prosecutors in Florida claim Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother conspired to funnel FEMA funds—originally earmarked for COVID-19 vaccinations—directly into her campaign coffers.
While the Ethics Committee’s oversight has ended, the former congresswoman still faces a federal criminal trial in Florida. She continues to deny all wrongdoing, labeling the proceedings a “witch hunt.”
“This was not a fair process,” Cherfilus-McCormick stated in a post on X. “I will not stand by and pretend that this has been anything other than a witch hunt. This fight is far from over.”
A House in Flux
The resignation further thins an already narrow margin in the House of Representatives. Cherfilus-McCormick’s exit follows two other abrupt departures last week:
- Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA): Resigned April 13 amid sexual misconduct allegations.
- Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX): Resigned shortly after Swalwell following the disclosure of an extramarital affair with a staffer.
Historical Context of Expulsion
Expulsion remains the most severe form of atmospheric discipline in Congress. The last member to face this fate was George Santos in December 2023. Notably, President Donald Trump commuted Santos’s prison sentence in October 2025.
Prior to the current era of volatility, the House had only used the expulsion power five times: three for members who joined the Confederacy during the Civil War, and twice for members convicted of bribery.
Cherfilus-McCormick, who represented Florida’s 20th district covering parts of Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, now turns her focus to her federal defense as the Justice Department moves forward with its prosecution.
