FL Dem Rep. Resigns Before Sanctions   04/22 06:15

   

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida 
resigned from office on Tuesday moments before the start of a hearing that 
could have led to a recommendation that she be expelled from Congress.

   Cherfilus-McCormick was the subject of a more than two-year investigation by 
the House Ethics Committee, which had determined recently that she had violated 
multiple federal laws and House rules. Support from her own party was 
increasingly in doubt.

   It's the third resignation in a little more than a week from a House 
lawmaker. Reps. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, and Tony Gonzales, a 
Texas Republican, announced within hours of each other that they were leaving 
Congress. Both men were facing sexual misconduct allegations and possible 
expulsion.

   In a statement, Cherfilus-McCormick said the House committee denied her new 
attorney's request for more time to prepare a defense. She also said she would 
not pretend that the investigation had been anything other than a "witch hunt," 
and rather than play political games, she would resign, effective immediately.

   "But let me say this plainly: we should be very careful about the precedent 
we are setting in this country, we do not punish people before due process is 
complete," she said. "We do not allow allegations alone to override the will of 
the people. That is a dangerous path, and one that should concern every 
American, regardless of party."

   Cherfilus-McCormick is also facing federal criminal charges accusing her of 
stealing $5 million in federal disaster funds and using the money to buy items 
such as a 3-carat yellow diamond ring.

   She has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges and says she is not 
guilty of ethics violations, either.

   The allegations against the congresswoman center on how she received 
millions of dollars from her family's health care business after Florida 
mistakenly overpaid the business by roughly $5 million with COVID-19 disaster 
relief funds. She is accused of using that money to fund her 2022 congressional 
campaign through a network of businesses and family members.

   Cherfilus-McCormick declined to testify during a previous Ethics Committee 
hearing, citing her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Her 
attorney, William Barzee, sparred with some of the lawmakers and argued that 
they should have allowed a thorough ethics trial, at which he could present 
witnesses and evidence to counter the conclusions of House investigators.

   Some supporters weighed in against expulsion

   A group of supporters in Cherfilus-McCormick's congressional district had 
weighed in on her behalf with the lawmakers who lead the Ethics Committee, 
urging committee leaders to proceed with caution in sanctioning her.

   "Our communities deserve stability. Our voices deserve to be heard. And our 
right to representation must be protected," said one of the letters signed by 
about a dozen local faith leaders, union officials and others.

   Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, along 
with other members of the caucus, issued a statement that praised 
Cherfilus-McCormick's time in Congress. They said Cherfilus-McCormick "worked 
to uplift her constituents and elevate issues impacting underserved communities 
at home and abroad."

   "We extend our appreciation for her service and offer our prayers for her 
and her family," the caucus members said.

   In all, the Ethics panel's more than two-year investigation led to the 
issuance of 59 subpoenas, 28 witness interviews and a review of more than 
33,000 pages of documents.

   House Democratic leaders had declined to condemn Cherfilus-McCormick, saying 
they wanted to see the ethics process play out.

   Still, leadership had been in conversations with her for weeks, ever since 
the Ethics committee released its findings, about the situation and the 
likelihood of an expulsion vote.

   A high threshold for expulsion

   The House has historically been reluctant to serve as the final arbiter of a 
lawmaker's career, preferring to give that final say to the voters.

   Of the six House members expelled, the first three fought for the 
Confederacy during the Civil War and were expelled for disloyalty. The next two 
had been convicted of crimes. The final one was George Santos, the 
scandal-plagued freshman who was the subject of a blistering ethics report on 
his conduct as well as a federal indictment.

   Santos, a New York Republican, served time in prison for ripping off his 
campaign donors before President Donald Trump granted him clemency, and he has 
apologized to his former constituents.

   Under the Constitution, at least two-thirds of the House has to vote for 
expulsion for it to occur, a high threshold that requires enormous bipartisan 
support.

   House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters last week he believed the 
House would move to expel Cherfilus-McCormick.

   "The facts are indisputable at this point," Johnson said.

   House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., took exception to 
Cherfilus-McCormick's characterization of the Ethics Committee's investigation.

   "Well, if you steal money, it's called theft. It's not called a witch hunt, 
and stealing taxpayer money is not going to be tolerated," Scalise said.