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Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix
The U.S. House Committee on Ethics announced on Tuesday that the panel is expanding an investigation into allegations that South Florida Democratic U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick may have violated campaign finance laws.
The committee initially announced in late December an investigative subcommittee to determine whether Cherfilus-McCormick “may have violated campaign finance laws and regulations in connection with her 2022 special election and/or 2022 re-election campaigns; failed to properly disclose required information on statements required to be filed with the House; and/or accepted voluntary services for official work from an individual not employed in her congressional office.”
She represents the 20th Congressional District.
According to the statement released on Tuesday by Mississippi Republican Michael Guest, chair of the House Ethics Committee, and Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Susan Wild, the ranking member, the inquiry has been expanded to determine whether Cherfilus-McCormick “violated the Code of Official Conduct or any law, rule, regulation, or other standard of conduct applicable to the performance of her duties or the discharge of her responsibilities, with respect to allegations that Representative Cherfilus-McCormick: (1) engaged in improper conduct in connection with community project funding requests; (2) misused official funds for campaign purposes; and/or (3) violated campaign finance laws and regulations in connection with her 2024 re-election campaign.”
Cherfilus-McCormick’s congressional seat was held for more than 28 years by the late Alcee Hastings. Cherfilus-McCormick unsuccessfully challenged Hastings in Democratic primaries in 2018 and 2020. After Hastings died in April 2021, she narrowly won the Democratic primary for the seat in August 2021 before easily winning the special general election in Jan. 2022.
She faces no primary or Republican challenger this year, meaning that she effectively won another two-year term in office in April.
The House Ethics Committee announced last week that it was reopening an investigation into Panhandle Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz regarding allegations that he had inappropriate sexual relationships and violated rules by accepting gifts.
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