Ethics investigation into Florida U.S. House Democrat ongoing

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Ethics Committee on Thursday released a report from the Office of Congressional Ethics that provides more details about why an investigation into Florida Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick remains ongoing.

Cherfilus-McCormick, who has represented the state’s 20th Congressional District for about three years, didn’t deny the allegations she may have violated campaign finance laws and House rules, but said in a statement she would work with the panel as its investigation continues.

“The Committee on Ethics has not yet concluded its review of the allegations, and no decision has been made at this time,” Cherfilus-McCormick said. “As outlined in the Committee’s public statement, the referral for further review does not imply that any violation has occurred. I fully respect the process and remain committed to cooperating with the Committee as it works to bring this inquiry to a close."

A press release from the Ethics Committee said releasing the Office of Congressional Ethics report was required by House rules since the investigative subcommittee looking into the matter hadn’t reached a conclusion after one year.

“The Committee notes that the mere fact of a continued investigation into these allegations does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred,” the press release states. “No other public comment will be made on this matter except in accordance with Committee rules.”

The three-page report from the Office of Congressional Ethics — now known as the Office of Congressional Conduct — says that Cherfilus-McCormick might have requested earmarked funding for a for-profit entity in violation of House rules.

“Representative Cherfilus-McCormick may have dispensed special favors or privileges to friends in connection with her congressional office’s requests for community project funding,” the report states. “If Representative Cherfilus-McCormick dispensed special favors or privileges to friends in connection with her congressional office’s requests for community project funding, she may have violated House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law.”

Cherfilus-McCormick also “may have accepted campaign contributions linked to an official action” and “her campaign may have accepted and failed to report in-kind contributions that may have exceeded applicable limits,” according to the report.

“Representative Cherfilus-McCormick’s campaign may have misreported the source of a campaign contribution or accepted a campaign contribution made by one person in the name of another,” the report states. “If Representative Cherfilus-McCormick’s campaign misreported the source of a campaign contribution or accepted a campaign contribution made by one person in the name of another, she may have violated House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law.”

Earmark, campaign finance irregularities

The House Ethics Committee originally voted in December 2023 to form an investigative subcommittee to look into allegations that Cherfilus-McCormick “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.”

New York Republican Rep. Andrew R. Garbarino was named chair of that panel and Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Chrissy Houlahan was named ranking member. Oregon Republican Rep. Cliff Bentz and Louisiana Democratic Rep. Troy Carter were named as members of the subcommittee.

The Ethics Committee expanded its investigation into Cherfilus-McCormick in June 2024, saying it would look into whether the congresswoman “engaged in improper conduct in connection with community project funding requests; (2) misused official funds for campaign purposes; and/or (3) violated campaign finance laws and regulations in connection with her 2024 re-election campaign.”

In September 2024, the Ethics Committee released an earlier Office of Congressional Ethics report into Cherfilus-McCormick.

That two-page report, dated one year prior, alleged Cherfilus-McCormick “made payments to a state political action committee that may have been in connection with her campaign for federal office.”

It also said Cherfilus-McCormick’s “campaign committee may have accepted and failed to report contributions exceeding FEC contribution limits” and that her “campaign committee may have failed to report transactions between the campaign committee’s bank account and Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick’s businesses’ bank accounts.”

The Washington Post reported in January that Florida was suing the health care firm that Cherfilus-McCormick once ran, alleging the state’s Division of Emergency Management paid more than $5 million for Trinity Health Care Services to register people for coronavirus vaccines, instead of the correct amount of around $50,000.

Cherfilus-McCormick’s financial disclosure form for that year shows her income increased by about $6 million, according to the Washington Post report.

Cherfilus-McCormick then loaned her congressional campaign more than $6 million between Jan. 1, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2022, according to the Washington Post report.