Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick posted a Christmas portrait on X that users flagged with a community note claiming the photo was edited to remove a ring allegedly bought with "$109K of stolen FEMA funds." Her official House 2024 portrait shows her wearing a ring, contradicting that claim. Cherfilus-McCormick was indicted on Nov. 19 over an alleged $5 million FEMA overpayment that prosecutors say was routed through multiple accounts and partly used to finance her 2022 campaign; she denies the charges and vows to fight them in court.
Community Note Claims Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Edited Christmas Photo To Remove Ring Linked To Alleged FEMA Fraud
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) posted a holiday greeting on X on Thursday — a smiling portrait accompanied by the message, "From my family to yours, wishing you a Merry Christmas and a joyful, safe holiday season." The post was soon annotated by X users with a community note alleging the photo had been altered to remove a ring the note says was purchased with "$109K of stolen FEMA funds."
Official portrait contradicts the claim: The congresswoman's official 2024 House portrait, available on her House website, shows her wearing a ring on her left hand, a detail the community note says was removed from the social post.
Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick
Indictment and Allegations
On Nov. 19, a federal grand jury indicted Cherfilus-McCormick, accusing her of participating in a scheme that included a $5 million alleged overpayment to a family-owned healthcare company under a 2021 COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract. The indictment alleges a substantial portion of those funds were not returned, were routed through multiple accounts to disguise their source, and were used in part to finance her 2022 House campaign and for personal benefit.
Prosecutors say the total scheme involves approximately $5 million; if convicted on all counts, Cherfilus-McCormick faces up to 53 years in prison. The indictment is an allegation; she has not been convicted.
Cherfilus-McCormick's Response
"This is unjust," Cherfilus-McCormick said after the indictment, asserting the case was intended "in hopes of intimidating and kind of distracting from the Epstein files." She told C-SPAN she looks forward to her day in court to "prove myself and actually state the truth," and argued prosecutors use "scare tactics, especially attacking minorities, black and brown people."
The X community note and the discrepancy between the social post and the official portrait have amplified public attention on the indictment and raised questions about how public officials manage imagery and messaging amid legal controversies.
