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The House Ethics Committee on Thursday will hold a rare public adjudicatory hearing for Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Florida Democrat accused of misusing millions in federal pandemic funds to support her congressional campaign.
The proceeding — sometimes described as a “trial” — could shape whether the committee recommends disciplinary action, including expulsion from Congress.
Republicans have already begun pushing to remove Cherfilus-McCormick, and the panel’s findings could influence whether Democrats join that effort.
High-stakes ethics hearing
The hearing, scheduled for 2 p.m., will be conducted by an adjudicatory subcommittee made up of four Republicans and four Democrats who were not involved in the investigation. The panel will determine whether the allegations are supported by “clear and convincing evidence” and issue findings of fact.
Under House rules, such hearings are typically public and may include opening statements, sworn testimony and evidence presentation.
On Wednesday, the committee said it would first reconsider Cherfilus-McCormick’s request to hold the proceedings behind closed doors.
In a statement, the congresswoman said she was “deeply disappointed” the hearing would move forward and maintained her innocence, noting she is limited in what she can say due to the ongoing criminal case.
Federal indictment outlines allegations
Cherfilus-McCormick was indicted in November on federal charges tied to an alleged scheme involving pandemic-era funds connected to her family’s company, Trinity Healthcare Services.
According to the Justice Department, a Florida agency mistakenly sent a $5 million overpayment to the company in 2021. Prosecutors allege that instead of returning the funds, the money was transferred across multiple accounts to conceal its origin.
More than $1.1 million was later directed to accounts tied to her campaign, with some funds allegedly routed through associates who made so-called straw donations — a practice prohibited under federal law.
Prosecutors also allege Cherfilus-McCormick used funds for personal expenses, including luxury items, and falsified financial records to reduce tax liability.
She faces 15 counts, including theft of government funds, money laundering and campaign finance violations, with a potential sentence of decades in prison if convicted.
“This is an unjust, baseless, sham indictment — and I am innocent,” she said following the charges.
Ethics report details broader concerns
In January, the bipartisan Ethics Committee released a report finding “substantial reason to believe” Cherfilus-McCormick violated federal law and House rules.
The panel reviewed more than 33,000 documents and interviewed dozens of witnesses, concluding there was significant evidence supporting the allegations and pointing to additional misconduct.
Investigators said millions of dollars in improperly obtained funds may have flowed through her campaign accounts and cited a pattern of inaccurate campaign finance filings across multiple election cycles.
The report also raised concerns about other contributions, including funds allegedly tied to corporate sources and routed through intermediaries.
Cherfilus-McCormick has disputed the findings, and her legal team has rejected the report’s conclusions.
Expulsion effort gains attention
Rep. Greg Steube, a Florida Republican, is leading an effort to expel Cherfilus-McCormick from the House.
Expulsion requires a two-thirds vote, a high bar that would likely require bipartisan support.
House Speaker Mike Johnson called the allegations “very serious” and said lawmakers would consider strong action if violations are confirmed, describing expulsion as “the political death penalty.”
Democratic leaders have urged caution. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has emphasized the presumption of innocence, while Rep. Pete Aguilar said Democrats will wait for the outcome of both the ethics proceedings and the criminal case.
What comes next
The outcome of Thursday’s hearing could determine whether the Ethics Committee recommends punishment ranging from censure to expulsion.
Lawmakers face mounting pressure to act as the legal case unfolds, with the rare public hearing marking a pivotal moment in the investigation.
