House Ethics Committee Schedules Hearing on Potential Sanctions for Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

By Caitlin Yilek

*Politics Reporter*

*April 21, 2026 / 6:00 AM EDT*

*/ CBS News*

WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee is set to hold a public hearing on Tuesday to consider whether sanctions are appropriate for Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida. The hearing, scheduled for 2 p.m., follows the committee's January report, which found substantial reason to believe she violated multiple House rules and federal laws.

In November, the Justice Department indicted Cherfilus-McCormick on 11 felony counts, including conspiracy to steal government funds, theft from a federal program, seven counts of money laundering, making straw donations, and making false statements on tax returns. She has pleaded not guilty to all counts and denies wrongdoing.

The bipartisan Ethics Committee's investigation produced a 59-page report citing substantial evidence of conduct consistent with the indictment's allegations, as well as additional misconduct. Investigators detailed spending of Federal Emergency Management Agency funds intended for disaster relief on luxury items, such as jewelry from Tiffany & Co., a Tesla vehicle, designer clothing, high-end hotels, and a cruise.

The committee's counsel stated in a memorandum ahead of the hearing that the 25 violations at issue are serious on their own. The memorandum noted the scope and continuous nature of the conduct, as well as the respondent's failure to take responsibility, as potential aggravating factors.

Possible sanctions short of expulsion include censure, fines, reprimand, removal from committee assignments, reduction in seniority, or requiring an apology.

Last month, the committee's adjudicatory subcommittee conducted a public proceeding, after which it determined that 25 of 27 allegations in the committee's report — involving House rule violations — had been proven by substantial evidence.

Republican Rep. Greg Steube of Florida has indicated he will seek a floor vote on Cherfilus-McCormick's expulsion once the Ethics Committee concludes its process.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, described the panel's findings last week as "alarming" and stated it would be "the consensus of this body that she should be expelled." He told reporters, "The facts are indisputable at this point."

Expulsion from the House requires a two-thirds majority vote.

House Democratic leaders have refrained from commenting on potential punishment pending the Ethics Committee's recommendations. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, said Monday that Democrats would convene as a caucus after the panel issues its recommendations to discuss next steps.

"Then we will proceed in a manner consistent with our approach to these types of ethics matters, which is to always and at all times follow the facts and apply the relevant law without fear or favor," Jeffries said.

The Justice Department alleged that Cherfilus-McCormick stole approximately $5 million in FEMA funds for her campaign. The Ethics Committee's findings focused on House rule violations and did not determine criminal guilt.

*Jaala Brown contributed to this report.*

In: U.S. House of Representatives

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