Key points: A federal grand jury has indicted Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, alleging she diverted $5 million in FEMA overpayments from a 2021 vaccination contract tied to her family’s company, laundered some funds through straw donors to her campaign, and conspired to file a false tax return. Cherfilus-McCormick denies the charges and will remain in Congress but stepped down from a Foreign Affairs subcommittee role. Florida officials previously sued the family firm over nearly $5.8 million in alleged overcharges, and the House Ethics Committee has renewed its investigation.
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Indicted Over Alleged $5M FEMA Overpayment, Campaign Laundering and Tax Fraud
A federal grand jury in Miami has indicted U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, accusing her of stealing $5 million in FEMA disaster overpayments tied to a 2021 COVID-19 vaccination registration contract and of laundering portions of the funds through straw donors to her congressional campaign. The indictment also alleges she conspired to file a false federal tax return.
Indictment details
Prosecutors say the alleged scheme centers on Trinity Healthcare Services, a company owned by the congresswoman’s family, which held a contract in 2021 to register people for COVID-19 vaccinations. The indictment alleges the company received overpayments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and that about $5 million of those funds were diverted to various accounts. Some of the funds are accused of being routed through friends and relatives who then contributed to the campaign that helped elect Cherfilus-McCormick.
Federal prosecutors assert a "substantial portion" of the misappropriated money was used either to benefit the campaign or for the personal benefit of Cherfilus-McCormick and others named in the indictment. The charges also include an allegation that the congresswoman and her 2021 tax preparer conspired to file a false tax return by misclassifying political and personal expenses as business deductions and inflating charitable contributions.
Response and political fallout
Cherfilus-McCormick has denied the allegations. In a public statement she called the indictment "unjust, baseless, sham" and said she is innocent, adding, "The timing alone is curious and clearly meant to distract from far more pressing national issues. I look forward to my day in court. Until then, I will continue fighting for my constituents." Her attorneys said they will defend her and work to clear her name.
She said she will remain in office. However, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced that Cherfilus-McCormick has stepped down as ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, a move Jeffries said aligns with House Democratic Caucus rules. Republican Rep. Greg Steube has called for her resignation and said he would pursue a resolution to expel her if she does not step down.
Previous investigations
State and congressional inquiries had already examined Trinity Healthcare Services. In December 2024, a Florida state agency sued Trinity, alleging the company overcharged the state by nearly $5.8 million for pandemic-related work and had not returned the money; officials said a single $5 million overpayment prompted the review. The Office of Congressional Ethics reported that Cherfilus-McCormick’s 2021 income was more than $6 million higher than in 2020, largely driven by nearly $5.75 million in consulting and profit-sharing fees from Trinity.
What happens next
The congresswoman is entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence. The case will proceed through the federal courts, and investigators and prosecutors will present evidence as the legal process unfolds. Separately, the House Ethics Committee has reauthorized an investigative subcommittee to continue examining the matter.
Note: Cherfilus-McCormick has said she has cooperated with lawful requests and will continue to do so. The indictment is an allegation; she has not been convicted.
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