U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) — who was indicted Wednesday for allegedly stealing $5 million in funding meant for COVID-19 vaccination efforts and rerouting some of the funds to her congressional campaign — responded to the indictment on Thursday by claiming that she is only being targeted on the basis of race.
The congresswoman was indicted by a grand jury in Miami on multiple felony counts, including conspiracy to steal government funds, money laundering, making illegal campaign contributions, and filing a false federal tax return.
The indictment alleges that in 2021, Cherfilus-McCormick, along with her brother Edwin Cherfilus, Nadege Leblanc, and David K. Spencer, used her family’s healthcare company, Trinity Healthcare Staffing Services, to secure a no-bid FEMA contract for COVID-19 vaccination staffing in South Florida. Prosecutors claim they intentionally overbilled FEMA by about $5 million, then laundered the funds through shell accounts and straw donors to disguise their origin
Funds were allegedly routed to support her 2021 special election congressional campaign, personal luxuries, and falsified business deductions on tax returns to evade taxes.
Cherfilus-McCormick has maintained her innocence, describing the charges as a “sham” that were only pursued because she is black.
“Well, it’s an unjust indictment, and it seems like these intimidation tactics have been pervasive. We spent all week seeing different members getting censured, all in hopes of intimidating and kind of distracting from the Epstein files. And I look forward to my day in court so I can prove myself and actually state the truth,” she said, referencing GOP-led efforts to censure Delegate Stacey Plaskett over her coordination with notorious sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
“But if this is what Congress is becoming, where they’re always trying to intimidate you, scare tactics, especially attacking minorities, black and brown people, then we’re going to have to keep fighting for the district. And everybody has been giving me so much support, and we’re going to keep fighting until the district gets what it needs, which is fair prices, housing, and fair representation of Congress.”
She went on to suggest that she will remain in office, stating that those calling for her to step down did not elect her.
JUST IN: Dem Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who was just indicted for allegedly stealing $5M in FEMA funds, suggests she is being targeted because she is black.
Reporter: Thoughts on the indictment?
Cherfilus-McCormick: “This is an unjust indictment … I look forward to my… pic.twitter.com/oCrHKFMPqU
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 20, 2025
Despite maintaining her innocence, the congresswoman will be stepping down from her leadership position on a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee “while the matter is ongoing,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) announced Thursday.
“Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has proudly represented the people of Palm Beach and Broward Counties since 2022. Consistent with the United States Constitution, she is entitled to her day in court and the presumption of innocence,” Jeffries spokesperson Christie Stephenson said in a statement.
Congressional investigations into Cherfilus-McCormick’s conduct began with a House Ethics Committee inquiry launched on December 27, 2023, prompted by the Office of Congressional Ethics referral over potential campaign finance violations tied to unreported contributions and improper use of funds during her 2021 campaign.
This probe expanded in June 2024 to include additional allegations of personal use of campaign resources. Separately, the federal criminal investigation into the FEMA fraud conducted by the FBI’s Miami Field Office and IRS Criminal Investigation has been ongoing since for several years after Florida’s emergency management department raised concerns.
She faces several decades in federal prison if convicted on all counts.
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