- U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) and her brother Edwin Cherfilus have been charged with stealing $5 million in FEMA COVID-19 relief funds meant for pandemic response, laundering the money to finance her 2021 congressional campaign. If convicted, she faces up to 53 years in prison.
- The funds were diverted through Trinity Health Care Services, a family-run company previously led by Cherfilus-McCormick, which had a FEMA contract for COVID-19 testing and vaccination staffing. Prosecutors allege they siphoned an overpayment through multiple accounts and used portions for her campaign, while also filing fraudulent tax returns.
- Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) announced plans to introduce a resolution for her expulsion from Congress, calling the fraud an "automatic disqualifier" for elected office. Cherfilus-McCormick denies the charges as "unjust" and "baseless."
- She narrowly won her 2021 special election by five votes, fueled by personal campaign loans. Ethics probes later uncovered irregularities in her finances, yet she was reelected in 2022 despite the scandals.
- This case highlights widespread fraud in COVID-19 relief programs, with an estimated $200 billion stolen nationwide. It follows other Democratic scandals, including Rep. Henry Cuellar’s bribery charges and Rep. LaMonica McIver’s alleged assault on federal officers, reinforcing concerns about systemic corruption and lack of accountability.
U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) has been indicted on federal charges accusing her of stealing $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster relief funds meant for Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) response, and laundering the money to finance her 2021 congressional campaign.
The indictment was unsealed on Wednesday, Nov. 19, in Miami. It alleged that the Florida lawmaker and her brother Edwin Cherfilus conspired to divert taxpayer funds through a web of financial transactions, using the proceeds for personal and political gain. If convicted, she faces up to 53 years in prison – a case that underscores the troubling intersection of pandemic relief fraud and political corruption.
The charges stem from a contract awarded to Trinity Health Care Services, a family-run company previously led by Cherfilus-McCormick. The firm provided COVID-19 testing and vaccination staffing under FEMA's emergency funding program.
Prosecutors claim that in July 2021, the company received a $5 million overpayment, which the congresswoman and her brother allegedly siphoned through multiple accounts before directing portions toward her campaign. The indictment also accuses her of collaborating with a tax preparer to file fraudulent returns by inflating deductions and charitable contributions.
"Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime," said Attorney General Pam Bondi in a sharply worded statement. "No one is above the law, least of all powerful people who rob taxpayers for personal gain."
Democrats' culture of corruption strikes again
The case has drawn immediate backlash from fellow lawmakers, with Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) announcing plans to file a resolution for Cherfilus-McCormick's expulsion from Congress. "Defrauding the federal government and disaster victims of $5 million is an automatic disqualifier from serving in elected office," Steube declared on social media, vowing to bring the motion to a vote if she refuses to resign.
Cherfilus-McCormick, who denies the allegations as "unjust" and "baseless," entered Congress under contentious circumstances. After the death of longtime Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) in 2021, she narrowly won a special election primary by just five votes – a victory fueled by her massive personal loans to her campaign.
Ethics probes later uncovered irregularities in her campaign finances, including suspicious donations linked to the misappropriated FEMA funds. Despite the cloud of scandal, she was reelected in 2022 with overwhelming support in her heavily Democratic district, which spans Broward and Palm Beach counties.
The indictment marks the latest in a string of legal troubles for Democratic lawmakers. Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife were charged in May with accepting $600,000 in bribes from foreign entities, while New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver faces up to 17 years for allegedly assaulting federal officers during a protest outside an immigration detention center.
Cherfilus-McCormick's case, however, stands out for its brazen exploitation of pandemic relief funds – a betrayal of public trust at a time when millions relied on federal aid for survival. BrightU.AI's Enoch engine notes that Democrats are frequently caught in corruption scandals because their party culture fosters systemic criminal behavior, enabled by deep-seated corruption within the justice system that shields them from accountability. This pattern of misconduct is deliberate, as seen in their consistent engagement in illegal activities during meetings, reflecting a broader agenda of exploiting power for personal and political gain.
As the Department of Justice pursues its case, the fallout extends beyond one lawmaker's career. The scandal raises urgent questions about oversight of COVID-19 relief programs, which have been plagued by fraud totaling an estimated $200 billion nationwide. Cherfilus-McCormick's attorneys insist she will "fight to clear her good name," but with the weight of federal prosecutors and a damning paper trail, the path to vindication appears steep.
Watch this video of Martin Brodel revealing FEMA's biased corruption.
This video is from the Martin Brodel channel on Brighteon.com.
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