A Florida Democratic Representative resigned after an ethics investigation, pending indictment and threat of expulsion.
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a South Florida Democrat who represents areas in Broward County and Palm Beach County, resigned from the House of Representatives while facing fraud charges including the misuse of COVID-19 funds.
She defended herself even as she announced her resignation.
“This was not a fair process,” Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick said. “The Ethics Committee refused my new attorney’s reasonable request for time to prepare my defense. By going forward with this process while a criminal indictment is pending, the Committee prevented me from defending myself. I will not stand by and pretend that this has been anything other than a witch hunt. I simply cannot stand by and allow my due process rights to be trampled on, and my good name to be tarnished.”
However, even the Florida Democratic Party turned against their own member.
“Corruption has no place in Congress,” Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said.
Another Florida Congressman, Rep. Greg Steube, celebrated the resignation and said she belongs in prison. The Republican said that with minutes to spare before Ethics voted to recommend expulsion, she resigned. “This is a victory for our institution and the great state of Florida,” Rep. Steube said. “Thank you to everyone who stayed involved and kept the pressure on. Now it’s on the DOJ to put her in prison.” He had shared these as the reasons why the the Democrat could no longer serve in Congress:
Even as she resigned, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick had more to say about the whole situation.
“Rather than play these political games, I choose to step away so that I can devote my time to fighting for my neighbors in Florida’s 20th district. I hereby resign from the 119th Congress, effective immediately,” the Democrat said. “But let me say this plainly: we should be very careful about the precedent we are setting. In this country, we do not punish people before due process is complete. We do not allow allegations alone to override the will of the people. That is a dangerous path, and one that should concern every American, regardless of party.”
And Democrats already have a target in the Republican Party, another Florida Congressman. The Florida Democratic Party turned the attention to Republicans in responding to the resignation of their own member.
“Now it’s Cory Mills’ turn to resign. Congressman Mills has been accused of stolen valor, threatening to sexually violate a former partner, and abandoning a rescue mission in Afghanistan to meet with sex workers so frequently his own travel party left him behind,” FDP Chair Nikki Fried said. “He faces an Ethics complaint for fraudulent use of campaign funds, leveraging committee assignments for personal gain, and has been the subject of three bipartisan censure resolutions. Members of both parties have both called for Cory Mills to be expelled – that says it all. He has spent more time fighting substantiated allegations of abuse than fighting for Floridians. Enough is enough.”
Meanwhile, the South Florida Democrat concluded her statement saying the fight was far from over.
“To my constituents, it has been the honor of my life fighting for you in the U.S. House of Representatives,” Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick said. “Thank you for standing with me and fighting alongside me. This fight is far from over.”
