Florida Congresswoman Faces Indictment for Misuse of Federal Disaster Funds
In a development that has stirred the political landscape, U.S. Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick from Florida is facing serious charges of misappropriating $5 million in federal disaster relief funds. These funds, intended for COVID-19 relief efforts, were allegedly diverted to support her 2021 campaign, according to the Justice Department.
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., condemns hate speech and misinformation about Haitian immigrants during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Sept. 20, 2024. J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Federal prosecutors allege that Cherfilus-McCormick’s family healthcare company, Trinity Healthcare Services, received overpayments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under a COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract. A portion of these funds was purportedly redirected to her political campaign as contributions.
Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the gravity of the situation in a statement: “Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime. No one is above the law, least of all powerful people who rob taxpayers for personal gain. We will follow the facts in this case and deliver justice.”
Attempts to reach Cherfilus-McCormick at her Washington office have not yet been successful.
Having been elected in a 2022 special election following the death of Rep. Alcee Hastings, Cherfilus-McCormick represents Florida’s 20th District, which includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties.
The controversy surrounding her financial dealings intensified in December 2024 when a Florida state agency filed a lawsuit against her family’s company. The Florida Division of Emergency Management accused the company of overcharging the state by nearly $5.8 million during pandemic-related operations and failing to return the funds.
Trinity Healthcare Services was initially contracted in 2021 to facilitate COVID-19 vaccination registrations. The overpayments became evident following a notable $5 million transaction.
At the time of these transactions, Cherfilus-McCormick was serving as the CEO of Trinity Healthcare Services. Her 2021 income reportedly surged by more than $6 million compared to the previous year, largely attributed to substantial consulting and profit-sharing fees from Trinity.
In light of these allegations, the House Ethics Committee decided in July to renew an investigative subcommittee to delve deeper into the claims against Cherfilus-McCormick.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
