Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick faces potential expulsion from Congress on Tuesday despite vowing to remain in office. The Florida Democrat was convicted of more than two dozen ethics violations in March involving $5 million in disaster relief funds improperly funneled to her family’s healthcare company. House Republicans are preparing to force a rare expulsion vote that would make her only the seventh lawmaker ever removed from Congress.

Ethics Trial Reveals Massive Financial Misconduct

A House ethics trial in March found Cherfilus-McCormick guilty of funneling disaster relief funds—money meant for emergency victims—into her own campaign and family business. The amount exceeded what the government owed her family-run healthcare company by more than 100 times. She never attempted to return the improperly obtained funds. Beyond the ethics conviction, a federal grand jury indicted her in 2025 on separate criminal charges that will proceed to trial.

Rep. Greg Steube announced he will force an expulsion vote regardless of the House Ethics Committee’s recommended punishment. The committee meets Tuesday afternoon to formally recommend sanctions. Expelling a member requires a two-thirds majority, meaning Democrats must support the measure for it to succeed. Former Rep. George Santos was the last lawmaker expelled in 2023.

Democrats Split On Colleague’s Fate

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters Democrats will meet after the Ethics Committee proceedings to decide their position. He promised to follow the facts and apply the law without fear. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez broke ranks last week, stating she would vote to expel Cherfilus-McCormick if she refuses to resign. Most Democrats remain silent on the issue despite the guilty verdict and federal indictment.

The Congressional Black Caucus, which Cherfilus-McCormick belongs to, contributed $5,000 to her campaign in early 2026 and has largely avoided commenting on the allegations. Several challengers are already positioning themselves for the August 2026 Democratic primary, sensing vulnerability in the safe blue district.

Campaign In Financial Collapse

Federal Election Commission filings reveal Cherfilus-McCormick’s campaign entered April with only $11,000 in available funds while carrying $4.4 million in debt. Most of the debt stems from mounting legal fees associated with her criminal defense and ethics proceedings. She refuses to suspend her re-election campaign despite the financial crisis and looming expulsion vote. Florida’s Republican-controlled state legislature could redraw her district boundaries, potentially eliminating the seat altogether if she is expelled or loses her primary challenge.