Arraignment Of Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Postponed To Feb. 3 Amid $5M COVID-Funds Indictment

A federal judge in Miami on Tuesday again postponed the arraignment of U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, granting her two more weeks to finalize her legal team as she faces a 15-count federal indictment accusing her of mishandling COVID-19 relief funds.

Hearing Update

Judge Enjoliqué A. Lett granted the congresswoman’s request and moved the arraignment to Feb. 3; prosecutors did not object. Defense attorney David Oscar Markus told the court that Cherfilus-McCormick’s financial affairs are complex but expressed confidence that an agreement could be reached to secure representation by next month’s hearing. The arraignment had originally been set for late December and was most recently scheduled for Tuesday before the judge approved another postponement.

Allegations And Charges

Authorities say a family-owned health care company, Trinity Healthcare Services, received an overpayment of federal COVID-19 relief funds in 2021 while it held a contract to register people for COVID-19 vaccinations. The indictment alleges the company was mistakenly paid $5 million after Cherfilus-McCormick’s brother, Edwin Cherfilus, requested $50,000 and the excess was not returned.

Prosecutors contend funds were redirected to multiple accounts, including those of friends and relatives, and that some of that money was later donated to Cherfilus-McCormick’s congressional campaign. The indictment also alleges that more than $100,000 was spent within two months on a 3-carat yellow diamond ring for the congresswoman.

CORRECTS TO HEARING, NOT ARRAIGNMENT - U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., speaks to the media after a hearing in federal court Monday, Dec. 29, 2025 in Miami. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The congresswoman has been charged in a 15-count federal indictment that includes theft of government funds; making and receiving straw-donor contributions; aiding and assisting in filing false tax statements; money laundering; and related conspiracy counts.

Release Conditions And Political Context

Cherfilus-McCormick was arrested in November and released on a $60,000 bond. As conditions of release, the judge ordered her to surrender her personal passport and limited her travel to Florida, Washington, D.C., Maryland and the Eastern District of Virginia. She has been permitted to retain a congressional passport to perform certain official duties.

A Democrat, Cherfilus-McCormick won a special election in January 2022 to represent Florida’s 20th Congressional District following the death of Rep. Alcee Hastings. She has pleaded not guilty and has consistently denied wrongdoing since the indictment was announced.

Next steps: The arraignment is now scheduled for Feb. 3, when the court will continue to address pretrial matters and the status of counsel for the defense.