The House Ethics Committee announced Wednesday it opened an investigation into Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) for allegedly violating campaign finance laws and other violations of House rules.
“Pursuant to the Committee’s action, the Investigative Subcommittee shall have jurisdiction to determine whether Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick violated the Code of Official Conduct or any law, rule, regulation, or other applicable standard of conduct in the performance of her duties or the discharge of her responsibilities, with respect to allegations that she may have violated campaign finance laws and regulations in connection with her 2022 special election and/or 2022 re-election campaigns; failed to properly disclose required information on statements required to be filed with the House; and/or accepted voluntary services for official work from an individual not employed in her congressional office,” a House Ethics Committee press release read.
Florida Democrat under investigation for allegedly breaking campaign finance laws | Just The News https://t.co/m9zo1SKxqm
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) December 27, 2023
“The Committee has determined to take this action following receipt of a referral from the Office of Congressional Ethics regarding this matter. The Committee notes that the mere fact of establishing an Investigative Subcommittee does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred,” the press release added.
The Hill reports:
The committee did not elaborate further on the allegations, as it typically does not disclose details about the substance of allegations against members until it completes investigations.
Cherfilus-McCormick’s office also did not elaborate on the allegations.
“As the Ethics Committee said in its statement, the mere fact of establishing an investigative subcommittee does not itself indicate that any violation occurred. Regardless, the Congresswoman takes these matters seriously and is working to resolve them,” a spokesperson for Cherfilus-McCormick told The Hill.
Cherfilus-McCormick joined the House of Representatives in 2022 after she won a special election to fill the seat left vacant after the death of Alcee Hastings.
House Ethics Committee opens investigation into Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) https://t.co/uxjNRfpCb1 pic.twitter.com/BMFr9ifjBz
— The Hill (@thehill) December 27, 2023
WATCH:
The House Ethics committee has unanimously agreed to form an investigative subcommittee to look into allegations of campaign finance violations by Rep. Shelia Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL). pic.twitter.com/2GPwEUTFwJ
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) December 27, 2023
“Inside Elections reported that the Congresswoman had used office funds to run advertisements during her campaign. That is allowed, but may blur some ethical lines,” Just the News noted.