WASHINGTON — A bipartisan House Ethics Committee panel has ruled that Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) committed 25 ethics violations, according to findings released on March 27, 2026. The adjudicatory subcommittee, made up of four Republicans and four Democrats, determined that 25 of 27 counts were proven by clear and convincing evidence following a rare public hearing that lasted over seven hours. The violations primarily involve allegations that Cherfilus-McCormick used millions of dollars from her family’s health care company — including improperly obtained federal disaster relief funds — to finance her 2022 congressional campaign through family members and affiliated businesses. Additional violations relate to financial disclosure failures, her reelection campaign, and using her congressional office to benefit allies. This marks the first open ethics proceeding against a sitting House member in nearly 15 years. The full Ethics Committee is expected to hold a sanctions hearing after the April recess. Republicans have indicated they will push for her expulsion from Congress, which would require a two-thirds vote in the House. Cherfilus-McCormick, who is seeking a fourth term, has denied all wrongdoing and stated she looks forward to proving her innocence. She faces a separate federal indictment on charges of stealing approximately $5 million in COVID-19 relief funds. The findings were first reported by The Epoch Times and corroborated across multiple outlets. [Cited from AP News report: https://apnews.com/article/congress-ethics-cherfilusmccormick-516fe4e2159beda8c8576c736547b53d]