This article explains why Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is facing serious expulsion talk after an Investigative Subcommittee report found “substantial” reason to believe she broke laws and ethics rules, outlines the allegations including a grand jury indictment tied to FEMA funds, and describes the GOP response pushing for a privileged motion to force an expulsion vote.
The House Ethics Committee’s investigative subcommittee released a report that Republican lawmakers point to as damning. That report says the subcommittee found “substantial” evidence of violations of federal laws, regulations, and standards of conduct tied to the congresswoman’s behavior while in office. The findings follow a broader criminal indictment and have reignited calls from some Republicans for accountability.
In November, a grand jury returned an indictment alleging the theft of $5 million in FEMA money during the COVID-19 pandemic and the use of that money to fund a political campaign. The congresswoman has publicly rejected those charges and described the legal action as politically motivated, while also making forceful statements about how the Department of Justice operates. Those public responses have done nothing to quiet Republican members who say the evidence merits decisive action.
Representative Greg Steube, a Republican from Florida, cited a resolution he first filed last November related to what he described as “serious financial crimes.” He signaled he intends to refile and push for a privileged motion that would bring an expulsion vote to the floor. A privileged motion is rare but it forces colleagues to confront allegations head-on rather than letting accusations linger unresolved.
The investigative subcommittee laid out the scope of its probe in clear, stark terms: more than 33,000 documents reviewed, 28 witnesses interviewed, and 59 subpoenas issued across the 118th and 119th Congresses. Those numbers are meant to show this was not a cursory review but a lengthy, document-heavy inquiry with serious procedural steps. The report says the subcommittee found conduct consistent with the indictment and additional misconduct spelled out in a statement of facts supporting alleged violations.
According to the report, cooperation from the congresswoman was initially inconsistent: some documents were produced, but when the subcommittee issued further subpoenas for documents and testimony she invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. That invocation complicated the subcommittee’s efforts and has been cited by critics as further reason to press for an expulsion vote. Republicans argue that when a member refuses to answer subpoenas in an ethics inquiry, the body must consider formal consequences to protect public trust.
There are visual details that fueled suspicion, too, including an incident where the congresswoman had a ring edited out of her official portrait. Reports noted the ring was reportedly purchased for more than $100,000 and that prosecutors allege it was paid for using misappropriated relief funds. Even small actions like editing an official portrait have become talking points for critics who see them as attempts to obscure the provenance of luxury items tied to alleged wrongdoing.
Behind the headlines, House Republicans are weighing political calculations: whether to move now on expulsion and how many colleagues will support such a step. A spokesperson for Steube indicates he plans to offer the privileged motion, which would allow any member to force an expulsion vote. Whether enough GOP members will back that motion is uncertain, but Republicans emphasize that the ethics report gives them a clear basis to demand a formal floor decision.
The congresswoman responded to the subcommittee action with a defense focused on procedural fairness. “Today’s action was taken without giving me a fair opportunity to rebut or defend myself due to the constraints of an ongoing legal process,” she said. “I reject these allegations and remain confident the full facts will make clear I did nothing wrong.” That statement underscores her legal posture while the House decides how to proceed on its own disciplinary path.
Lawmakers and staff on both sides will watch how leadership handles this delicate moment, balancing legal proceedings with the House’s duty to police members’ conduct. Republicans pushing for an expulsion vote frame their move as necessary to preserve the institution’s integrity and to hold members to the same legal standards as everyone else. The coming weeks will test whether the Ethics Committee’s work translates into floor action or remains an internal finding without immediate congressional penalties.
At the same time, parties will argue over optics and precedent, with Democrats likely to emphasize due process and ongoing legal matters, while Republicans will stress the investigative findings and the need for clear consequences. For those demanding accountability, the combination of an indictment, the investigative subcommittee’s documented findings, and the invocation of the Fifth Amendment provide a strong case to pursue an expulsion vote under House rules.
Why is it every black woman working for the government is always corrupt. They all seem like they can get away with anything they do because there black. Well the will all look great in orange jumpsuits hope they get what’s coming to them a long prison sentence without possibility of parole or pardons and auto pen pardons. They should be hung for stealing taxpayers money.
Another black political crook. These black females give their race a bad name. After decades of white support and breaks that no white person would ever get, a black finally gets into congress — and proceeds to steal! What the Hell is the matter with such people. They disgrace every person trying to come up behind them!
What the hell!!! Make a proper example of this lying serpentine Criminal in our Government! Lock her away for many years!!!
Next go get that over the top Criminal Crockett in Texas!!!