Despite stepping down amid ongoing congressional and federal investigations, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick remains a registered candidate for re-election. The probes focus on allegations of her diverting disaster relief funds for personal benefit.
Just days before her resignation, Cherfilus-McCormick filed her candidacy paperwork with the Florida Department of State on April 17, asserting her intention to run as a Democrat.
Her resignation became official on Tuesday.
This development raises questions about her political aspirations, as she faces significant scrutiny over her actions.
Efforts to reach her office for comment were unsuccessful.
Cherfilus-McCormick’s resignation coincides with a pending recommendation from the House Ethics Committee, which was preparing to suggest punitive measures for her alleged misuse of disaster relief funds. These funds were reportedly channeled through various companies to support her campaign activities.
The committee found that she had committed 18 campaign finance violations, five counts of false financial disclosures, three counts of misusing official funds and one count of lack of candor.
Cherfilus-McCormick maintained her innocence but announced that she would defend herself outside of her time in office.
“This was not a fair process. The Ethics Committee refused my new attorney’s reasonable request for time to prepare my defense. I simply cannot stand by and allow my due process rights to be trampled on, and my good name to be tarnished,” Cherfilus-McCormick said in a press release.
“Rather than play these political games, I choose to step away so that I can devote my time to fighting for my neighbors in Florida’s 20th district. I hereby resign from the 119th Congress, effective immediately.”
While Cherfilus-McCormick’s departure from Congress halted the Ethics Committee’s authority over her, she also faces federal charges.
She was indicted by a Miami grand jury in November for allegedly stealing $5 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has not yet announced a date for a special election to fill her vacant seat.
