Sheila Cherfilus McCormick's fellow Democrats demand her resignation or expulsion
· Axios
A growing number of House Democrats are calling on Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) to resign after the House Ethics Committee found her guilty of dozens of charges, including serious financial misconduct.
Why it matters: Some of those lawmakers said they are at least open to voting to expel the Florida Democrat, creating substantial new pressure for her to be ousted from Congress by one means or another.
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- Cherfilus-McCormick, who is also under federal indictment, said in a statement Friday: "I look forward to proving my innocence. Until then, my focus remains where it belongs: showing up for the great people of Florida's 20th District who sent me to Washington to fight for them."
- The Ethics Committee is set to meet when the House returns in mid-April to vote on recommending punitive action, which could include fines, censure, or expulsion.
By the numbers: More than half a dozen House Democrats said they think Cherfilus-McCormick should resign after the panel said Friday morning they found 25 of the 27 charges against her were "proven by clear and convincing evidence."
- Few had said so publicly before Thursday's hearing, in which Cherfilus-McCormick's lawyer struggled to withstand bitter questioning from members of the panel.
- But the nature of the allegations — she is accused of laundering $5 million in government disaster relief funds and funneling them into her campaign — have had some Democrats increasingly uncomfortable with her continued presence.
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) said in a post on X that Cherfilus-McCormick "should resign or be removed," later telling Axios she would vote to expel her.
Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) told Axios her resignation would "be easier for everyone" and, asked if he would vote to expel her, said, "if someone's misbehaved in the way she's said to have misbehaved, I think every member of Congress, regardless of party, has to respond to that, and I think we will."
Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) told Axios "she should resign," but that Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) "must be pushed by Republicans to resign, too" after admitting to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) also told Axios Cherfilus-McCormick should resign and that she would vote for expulsion, but that she also wants "us to address [Gonzales] at the same time."
Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) told Axios: "She has to consider her constituents and the House Democratic caucus, so I think she should probably step aside ."
Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas) told Punchbowl News that she should resign, exclaiming, "I mean, what's the difference between that and George Santos?"
Between the lines: Many other Democrats declined to comment substantively on the matter, either saying they hadn't seen the case or deferring until the panel recommends a punishment.
- But even some of those lawmakers still acknowledged the picture is bleak for Cherfilus-McCormick. "Doesn't look good," Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), the chair of the House Democratic caucus, told Axios.
- "I'll tell you that all the allegations are incredibly serious," said Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.).
- Said Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.): "I don't want to opine on the details of that yet, but it looks problematic."
- "I'm obviously concerned about it," said Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.).
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) similarly declined to weigh in until after the Ethics committee's mid-April meeting.
- "As I understand it, the Ethics Committee has one final step in their process. I'm not going to get out ahead of the Ethics Committee process that will be completed upon our return, and then I have more to say," he told reporters.
- Some lawmakers went further, with Rep. Mark Veasey (D-Texas) arguing that Cherfilus-McCormick's criminal trial should be what determines her political fate.