By Nolan D. McCaskill
WASHINGTON, April 21 (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned on Tuesday, minutes before a congressional committee was set to hold a hearing on her punishment for ethics violations.
Her departure immediately expands Republicans' narrow majority to 217-213 with an independent who caucuses with Republicans and four vacancies.
In a social media post announcing her resignation, Cherfilus-McCormick slammed the chamber's ethics review as a "witch
hunt," calling it an unfair process that gave her insufficient time to defend herself.
"I simply cannot stand by and allow my due process rights to be trampled on, and my good name to be tarnished," Cherfilus-McCormick 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."
In her resignation letter, Cherfilus-McCormick said it was in the best interest of her and her constituents to step down but that she remained committed to a smooth transition to ensure continuity of service for those in her district.
The Ethics Committee was poised to take up sanctions against Cherfilus-McCormick, who was charged by the Department of Justice with allegedly stealing federal disaster funds. Cherfilus-McCormick has denied wrongdoing.
The hearing lasted less than five minutes.
Two seats for Cherfilus-McCormick and her attorney remained empty as Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest, a Mississippi Republican, announced the panel no longer had jurisdiction over the case given Cherfilus-McCormick's resignation. But he defended the committee's work, saying the panel investigated "extremely serious" and "complicated" allegations without a rush to judgment.
A congressional subcommittee found "clear and convincing evidence" that Cherfilus-McCormick was guilty of 25 violations related to campaign finance laws and regulations, ethics laws and regulations and House of Representatives rules.
The Department of Justice indicted Cherfilus-McCormick in November, charging her with stealing $5 million in federal disaster funds and using the money to support her congressional campaign.
The DOJ said Cherfilus-McCormick's family healthcare company was overpaid $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds in July 2021. Prosecutors alleged Cherfilus-McCormick and others funneled the money through multiple accounts and used them as campaign contributions for her congressional run.
Cherfilus-McCormick, whose federal trial is set to begin in February, faces up to 53 years in prison, if convicted.
Her resignation comes the week after two lawmakers - Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, and Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican - resigned in disgrace following accusations of sexual misconduct. Another member, Republican Representative Cory Mills of Florida, is also under an ethics investigation for alleged sexual misconduct.
Asked whether to expect Mills to soon resign, a House Republican leadership aide replied: "These are individual cases and every member will get due process."
Guest told reporters after the brief hearing that the investigation into Mills is ongoing. But he said he hopes the rising number of resignations in recent days signal to Americans that Congress will hold its members accountable.
"Members that conduct bad conduct - whatever that conduct may be ... those members are going to be held accountable," Guest said. "This body is willing to expel members who violate the rules and who bring distrust upon this institution."
(Reporting by Nolan D. McCaskill ; Additional reporting by David Morgan and Jasper Ward in Washington; Editing by Chris, Michael Learmonth and Alistair Bell)
