House Ethics Committee Investigating Cherfilus-McCormick

Florida Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D) is facing a House Ethics Committee investigation. Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick has been accused of violating campaign finance laws and failing to submit the required disclosures while carrying out improper hiring practices.

The campaign finance complaint is related to Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick’s special election in 2022 and her reelection campaign in the same year.

According to a statement of the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics, an Investigative Subcommittee will be established. “The Investigative Subcommittee shall have jurisdiction to determine whether Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick violated the Code of Official Conduct or any law, rule, regulation, or other applicable standard of conduct in the performance of her duties or the discharge of her responsibilities, with respect to allegations that she may have violated campaign finance laws and regulations in connection with her 2022 special election and/or 2022 re-election campaigns; failed to properly disclose required information on statements required to be filed with the House; and/or accepted voluntary services for official work from an individual not employed in her congressional office.”

In response to the investigation, Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick’s spokesperson, Jonathan Levin, commented that “as the Ethics Committee said in its statement, the mere fact of establishing an investigative subcommittee does not itself indicate that any violation occurred.” “Regardless, the Congresswoman takes these matters seriously and is working to resolve them,” Levin continued.

The statement of the Chairman of the Committee on Ethics goes on to list the members of the committee, explaining that "the Honorable Andrew R. Garbarino will serve as the Chair of the Investigative Subcommittee, and the Honorable Chrissy Houlahan will serve as the Ranking Member.  The other two members of the Investigative Subcommittee are the Honorable Cliff Bentz and the Honorable Troy A. Carter."