The indictment of Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) was met with condemnation from her Republican colleagues in the House and silence from her Democratic allies.
The Justice Department announced on Wednesday that Cherfilus-McCormick had been charged in a federal indictment over allegations that she stole $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds, laundered it, and used the proceeds for her 2021 congressional campaign.
The Florida representative, who was indicted by a federal grand jury in Miami, faces charges of theft, fraud, and conspiring to file a false federal tax return. If found guilty, she could receive a prison sentence of up to 53 years.
The indictment prompted House members to act, with Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) floating a censure vote.
“Tomorrow morning I will be filing a privileged motion to censure Cherfilus-McCormick and remove her from all committees,” Steube posted to X on Wednesday.
“This is one of the most egregious abuses of public trust I have ever seen. Stealing $5 million in taxpayer disaster funds from FEMA of all places is beyond indefensible. Millions of Floridians have relied on FEMA after devastating hurricanes, and that money was supposed to help real disaster victims.
“And once House Ethics concludes their investigation or she is formally convicted, rest assured I will move to expel her from Congress.”
Others condemned Cherfilus-McCormick’s alleged actions.
“Democrats love wasteful government spending, because they launder it to their campaign accounts,” Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) wrote on X in a response to the indictment.
“Law and order has returned,” Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) wrote on X. “Like @CongresswomanSC [Cherfilus-McCormick’s X account] said way back in 2023, no one is above the law.”
Not only did Cherfilus-McCormick often use the phrase, “No one is above the law,” in social media comments regarding President Donald Trump’s indictments, but she also often called for more FEMA funding.
FEMA is notably the source that accidentally overpaid Cherfilus-McCormick’s brother for a COVID-19 staffing vaccination contract toward his healthcare company. Cherfilus-McCormick is accused of rerouting a “substantial portion” of the misappropriated $5 million to her congressional campaign.
“.@fema needs to be fully equipped to support Floridians in the wake of catastrophic hurricanes,” Cherfilus-McCormick wrote on X in 2023, two years after her alleged crime. “That’s why I joined a letter with my colleagues from Florida’s congressional delegation that urges FEMA to replenish its Disaster Relief Fund.”
“FEMA helps communities across Florida get ahead before storms hit. Freezing the agency’s grant funding — with hurricane season now right around the corner — is plain dangerous,” Cherfilus-McCormick wrote on X in May. “I joined a letter calling for this Administration to reverse course and ensure that we can be prepared ahead of a disaster.”
Former New York Rep. George Santos, who served with Cherfilus-McCormick, noted a change in her social media strategy Thursday.
“Someone is having a rough day,” Santos wrote on X, responding to a recent post from Cherfilus-McCormick. “Comments are off!”
Someone is having a rough day…. Comments are off!
https://t.co/Midb8u4HIG
— George Santos (@MrSantosNY) November 20, 2025
Cherfilus-McCormick’s political opponents, current and former, have also commented on the indictment. Vic DeGrammont was the Republican candidate facing off against Cherfilus-McCormick when she first ran for office in a 2021 special election.
“I ran against Sheila Cherfilus McCormick in FL20 the year she won. When she said her campaign was totally self funded, I knew there was something was up, but there was no way to prove it,” DeGrammont wrote on X. “Finally the truth comes out!”
Now Cherfilus-McCormick is facing a Democratic challenger: Elijah Manley.
“Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick should resign from office so that our district can focus on having our needs met without distraction,” Manley wrote on X. “The governor may not call a special election quickly, but the clock is ticking and every moment she stays in office is a disgrace to our community.”
The Washington Examiner reported in May that the Office of Congressional Ethics recommended the Ethics Committee look into whether Cherfilus-McCormick requested community project funding for a for-profit entity, accepted campaign contributions linked to an official action, and whether her office either made payments to an entity or her campaign accepted and failed to report in-kind contributions.
FLORIDA HOUSE DEMOCRAT CHARGED WITH STEALING $5 MILLION IN FEMA FUNDS
Notably, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has not commented publicly on the indictment.
The Washington Examiner has reached out to Jeffries and Cherfilus-McCormick for comment.
