Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D., Fla.) announced her resignation from Congress on Tuesday after Republicans threatened to hold a vote to remove her from her seat over allegations that she misused federal disaster relief money, among other misconduct.
She was also indicted by a grand jury last year on charges of stealing federal disaster funds.
“Rather than play these political games, I choose to step away so I can devote my time to fighting for my neighbors in Florida’s 20th District,” Cherfilus-McCormick said. “I hereby resign from the 119th Congress, effective immediately.”
Ahead of her resignation, Representative Greg Steube (R., Fla.) threatened to file a motion to expel her from Congress, which would have set up a vote on her ouster for later this week. Her announcement also came moments before a House Ethics Committee hearing was set to begin, in which the committee was expected to recommend sanctions against her for a number of ethics violations involving financial misconduct.
The panel previously found the congresswoman guilty on multiple counts of failing to comply with Federal Election Commission regulations and uphold the Code of Ethics for Government Service. It found “clear and convincing evidence” that she misused $5 million in federal disaster relief money that was improperly paid to her family’s healthcare company, in order to boost her 2021 campaign.
But on Tuesday, House Ethics Chairman Michael Guest said that her resignation meant the committee had lost its jurisdiction and would no longer consider sanctions against her. Before her resignation, the panel could have recommended her expulsion from the House and a fine, though it has only recommended expulsion just four times in more than 50 years.
She had previously maintained her innocence and said that she would not be forced out of Congress.
She is now left to face a 15-count federal criminal indictment, though her trial is not set to begin until next year.
The Florida Democrat is the third member of the House to resign in two weeks, following the resignations of Representative Eric Swalwell (D., Calif.) and Representative Tony Gonzales (R., Texas), both of whom were facing sexual misconduct allegations.