Updated Nov 20, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick indicted

Andrew Solender

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, wearing a purple suit and standing in front of two flags and a gray wall behind a white podium and a cluster of microphones. — Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick speaks at a press conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on March 11, 2024. Photo: Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images.

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) was indicted by a federal grand jury in Florida for allegedly stealing $5 million in FEMA overpayments to her company and funneling some of the money into her congressional campaign.

Why it matters: Cherfilus-McCormick faces up to 53 years in prison if convicted, Justice Department prosecutors said in a press release announcing the indictment.

The Florida Democrat has been under investigation by House ethics watchdogs since 2023 over alleged improper donations to the special election campaign that first got her elected to Congress.
Cherfilus-McCormick, who has denied any wrongdoing, issued a statement Thursday morning calling the indictment "unjust," "baseless," and a "sham," declaring, "I am innocent."

The details: The indictment alleges that Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother received a $5 million overpayment in 2021 as part of a FEMA-funded COVID vaccination staffing contract to their family's health care company, according to prosecutors from the Southern District of Florida.

The prosecutors say Cherfilus-McCormick and co-defendents then laundered the money and that a "substantial portion" of it went to her campaign to succeed deceased Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) in 2021.
Cherfilus-McCormick is known to have loaned her 2021 campaign $3.7 million, but eventually repaid $2 million of that.

What they're saying: "The timing alone is curious and clearly meant to distract from far more pressing national issues," Cherfilus-McCormick said of the indictment in her statement on Thursday.

"From day one, I have cooperated with every lawful request, and I will continue to do so until this matter is resolved."

State of play: Cherfilus-McCormick was already facing a 2026 primary challenge from 26-year-old teacher Elijah Manley, who has based his campaign on allegations of corruption against her.

She is part of a growing cohort of establishment House Democrats to be challenged from the left in their primaries.
"Today's indictment is a sad moment for the people of Florida's 20th Congressional District," Manley said in a statement Wednesday. "The people of FL-20 are ready to move past this era of fraud, corruption, and distractions."
Manley out-raised Cherfilus-McCormick between July and September of this year, bringing in $114,000 in donations to her $68,000.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.

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Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick indicted

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