Florida’s First Haitian American Congressmember Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Resigns – Here’s What She Is Saying

News Americas, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, Weds. April 22, 2026: Florida’s first Haitian-American congressmember, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, has resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of a possible expulsion vote – placing renewed focus on the allegations she now faces.

Cherfilus-McCormick stepped down Tuesday just minutes before a scheduled House Ethics Committee hearing that could have paved the way for a full vote on her removal from Congress. Her resignation comes as she faces both ethics violations and federal criminal charges tied to the alleged misuse of millions of dollars in federal disaster funds.

WHAT SHE IS ACCUSED OF

According to the allegations, Cherfilus-McCormick’s family-owned healthcare company received an estimated $5 million overpayment from Federal Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA), funds during the COVID-19 pandemic due to what has been described as a clerical error.

Prosecutors allege that instead of returning the funds, portions of the money were distributed to associates, friends and family members, who then made donations to her 2022 congressional campaign – a practice known as “straw donations,” which violates federal campaign finance laws.

The Justice Department indicted Cherfilus-McCormick and several others, including her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, and a tax preparer, David K. Spencer, 41, of Davie, in November. If convicted, she could face up to 53 years in prison.

Separately, a bipartisan House Ethics Committee investigation found that she violated more than two dozen House rules following a years-long probe into her conduct. Despite the mounting legal challenges, Cherfilus-McCormick has denied the allegations, describing them as “unjust” and characterizing the ethics proceedings as a “witch hunt.”

“Rather than play these political games, I chose to step away so that I can devote my time fighting for my neighbors,” she said in a statement announcing her resignation.

HER FULL STATEMENT

““This was not a fair process. The Ethics Committee refused my new attorney’s reasonable request for time to prepare my defense. By going forward with this process while a criminal indictment is pending, the Committee prevented me from defending myself. I will not stand by and pretend that this has been anything other than a witch hunt. I simply cannot stand by and allow my due process rights to be trampled on, and my good name to be tarnished.

Rather than play these political games, I choose to step away so that I can devote my time to fighting for my neighbors in Florida’s 20th district. I hereby resign from the 119th Congress, 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. 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.

To my constituents, it has been the honor of my life fighting for you in the U.S. House of Representatives. Thank you for standing with me and fighting alongside me. This fight is far from over.”

AHEAD

Her departure comes at a critical moment, as lawmakers were preparing for what could have been a rare expulsion vote – a move that requires a two-thirds majority and has occurred only a handful of times in U.S. history.

Cherfilus-McCormick’s resignation also carries broader significance beyond Washington. As the first Haitian-American Democrat elected to Congress, she represented a historic milestone for Haitian and Caribbean communities in the United States. Her time in office was marked by efforts to highlight issues affecting underserved communities, both domestically and within the Caribbean diaspora.

With her resignation, Florida’s 20th Congressional District will now face a special election to fill the vacancy, while her legal battle continues in federal court, with a trial expected next year.

For many in the Haitian-American community, the moment represents a complex mix of disappointment, uncertainty, and reflection – as the focus shifts from political representation to the legal process ahead.