A growing number of House Democrats are publicly calling for Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) to resign following a House Ethics Committee report that found her guilty of 25 of 27 charges, including serious financial misconduct. The committee concluded she laundered $5 million in government disaster relief funds and funneled them into her campaign; she also faces a related federal indictment. The panel is set to meet in mid-April to recommend punishment, which could range from fines to expulsion.
While many Democrats initially remained silent, several now say she should step down or be expelled. Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Pramila Jayapal, and Jimmy Gomez are among those who have said she must resign, with some pledging to vote for expulsion. Some, including Jayapal and Rep. Becca Balint, tied her case to Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, who admitted an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide, arguing both should be addressed.
However, other Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, are deferring to the Ethics Committee’s final process. Some, like Rep. Mark Veasey, argue her criminal trial should determine her political fate. The scandal has created significant discomfort within the caucus, with Rep. Pete Aguilar acknowledging the situation “doesn’t look good.” The pressure on Cherfilus-McCormick is mounting, with expulsion now a tangible threat.
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