Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigns from Congress in face of expulsion vote

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) resigned from Congress on Tuesday amid allegations of financial misconduct that could have led to her expulsion later in the week. 

The stunning announcement came just moments before the House Ethics Committee was scheduled to meet to weigh potential penalties for the embattled Florida Democrat, who is facing federal charges over allegations of stealing millions of dollars from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help fund her congressional campaign. 

Cherfilus-McCormick has maintained her innocence. But in a statement on Tuesday, she said the Ethics investigation “was not a fair process,” and threatened to disadvantage her defense in the criminal case.

“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,” she said.

“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,” she added.

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