House Dem accused of stealing FEMA funds set to face rare ethics "trial"

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida faces a rare House ethics trial after being accused of misusing approximately $5 million in FEMA funds intended for disaster relief, allegedly diverting portions to her campaign and personal purchases of luxury goods. The ethics proceeding is unusual because formal trials of this kind are infrequent in the chamber, typically reserved for the most serious alleged violations. The case centers on whether the Democrat improperly obtained and redirected federal disaster assistance money, raising questions about accountability for how pandemic and disaster relief funds are managed. If substantiated, the allegations could result in House sanctions ranging from a formal reprimand to expulsion, though that outcome would require a two-thirds majority vote. The trial underscores ongoing scrutiny of how elected officials handle federal emergency funding.