Florida Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigns from Congress

(NBC, KYMA) - Embattled Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) has resigned.

Moments before the House Ethics Committee was set to consider whether to recommend she be expelled from Congress, Cherfilus-McCormick posted a statement on X Tuesday saying she was choosing to "step away."

Last month, a special House Ethics Subcommittee found her guilty of committing 25 ethics violations related to allegations that she stole $5 million in federal relief funds and used the money for her congressional campaign.

Cherfilus-McCormick was also charged with 17 counts of theft of government funds and money laundering, and her criminal trial is expected to begin in February 2027.

She has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty.

"In light of Mrs. McCormick's resignation earlier today, the Committee on Ethics has now lost jurisdiction in this matter. There will not be a sanctions hearing. I would like to thank the committee staff who are with us today for their two and a half years of hard work in this matter. I will tell you that the committee has worked diligently to investigate this matter, that this was not a rush to judgment, as some would claim. That this was a very deliberate process to gather information into allegations that were extremely serious and extremely complicated."

Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.), House Ethics Committee Chair

Tuesday's stunning development marked the third resignation in the past week as two other House lawmakers, former Reps. Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales, resigned ahead of potential votes to expel them from Congress over allegations of sexual misconduct.