Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is facing a House expulsion resolution after a federal indictment accusing her and others of conspiring to misappropriate about $5 million in COVID-19 relief funds and directing some of it to her campaign. A Republican colleague says he will seek a floor vote unless she resigns, though expulsion requires a two-thirds vote in a narrowly split House. The House Ethics Committee has been investigating since 2023, and Cherfilus-McCormick has denied the charges while stepping down from a subcommittee role during the legal proceedings.
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Faces Possible Expulsion After Indictment in Alleged $5M COVID-Relief Scheme
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is facing a House expulsion resolution after a federal indictment accusing her and others of conspiring to misappropriate about $5 million in COVID-19 relief funds and directing some of it to her campaign. A Republican colleague says he will seek a floor vote unless she resigns, though expulsion requires a two-thirds vote in a narrowly split House. The House Ethics Committee has been investigating since 2023, and Cherfilus-McCormick has denied the charges while stepping down from a subcommittee role during the legal proceedings.
03:13 AM, 11/21/2025Politics
A resolution to expel Democratic U.S. Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick was filed in the House on Thursday after she was indicted on federal charges alleging the misuse of COVID-19 relief funds.
Republican Representative Greg Steube, who represents a Florida district like Cherfilus-McCormick, submitted the measure and said he will press for a floor vote if she does not resign. The resolution would still require a two-thirds majority to pass, making expulsion unlikely in a closely divided chamber.
Prosecutors allege that Cherfilus-McCormick, her brother and others conspired to misappropriate a roughly $5 million overpayment of COVID-19 relief funds and that some of that money was directed to her campaign. The congresswoman has denied the allegations, calling them unjust and without merit.
Greg Steube: "If she refuses to resign and save Congress the embarrassment of having to expel her, I will bring this resolution to the floor for a vote."
The House Ethics Committee has been probing accusations against Cherfilus-McCormick since 2023. While the legal process and the ethics review proceed, Cherfilus-McCormick will step down from her role as the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee's Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee.
Christie Stephenson, spokesperson for House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries: "Consistent with the United States Constitution, she is entitled to her day in court and the presumption of innocence."
Expulsion is the House's most severe sanction and requires a two-thirds vote. Republicans hold a slim 219-214 majority in the House, so any resignation or vacancy could affect control and the balance on key legislation.
The most recent House expulsion was of former Representative George Santos of New York, who was removed by a vote on Dec. 1, 2023. Lawmakers and political observers say individual departures and replacements have taken on greater significance because of the narrow partisan margin.
For example, the delayed swearing-in of Arizona Representative Adelita Grijalva provided a decisive vote that helped force consideration of a bill to release unclassified files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein; that bill moved quickly through both chambers and was signed into law.
As investigators and prosecutors continue their work, Republicans have signaled they will pursue action if Cherfilus-McCormick does not resign, while Democrats emphasize due process and the presumption of innocence.
By Nolan D. McCaskill