‘Substantial amount’: Dems mum on keeping indicted lawmaker’s cash donations

Democratic Florida Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick shelled out thousands of dollars to Democratic candidates and affiliated groups, but the recipients are staying mum about the donations following a bombshell indictment alleging her campaign used stolen disaster relief funds.

Cherfilus-McCormick, an embattled lawmaker first elected to the House in a January 2022 special election, is facing up to 53 years in prison for allegedly stealing $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) overpayments among other charges. A recent House ethics subcommittee report found that a “substantial amount” of the funds were laundered in support of her special election campaign and subsequent November 2022 reelection bid.

Federal prosecutors allege that millions of stolen funds were rerouted from Trinity Health Care Services, Cherfilus-McCormick’s company, to her campaign account during her special election campaign to replace Democratic Rep. Alcee Hastings, who died in office. It is possible that some of the Florida Democrat’s contributions to Democrats — mostly Black women running for federal office — may have drawn from the fraudulent stockpile.

In January 2022, former Democratic Florida Rep. Val Demings received a donation of $5,800 from Cherfilus-McCormick in support of her Senate run — the same month Cherfilus-McCormick was elected to Washington in a special election. Then-Republican Florida Sen. Marco Rubio went on to trounce Demings in the general election to win his third term in office.

In April 2022, Cherfilus-McCormick donated $5,000 to Democratic Ohio Rep. Shontel Brown, who was vying in a competitive primary against far-left former State Sen. Nina Turner for the party’s nomination. Brown comfortably defeated Turner in the rematch contest.

Cherfilus-McCormick’s campaign account also contributed $1,000 to the failed Senate campaign of now-Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee in March 2024, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings.

Spokespersons for Brown, Lee and Demings did not respond to requests for comment.

Cherfilus-McCormick contributed $5,000 to the Democratic Executive Committee of Florida, the governing body of the state’s Democratic Party, in July 2022. The Florida Democratic Party also received a $550 donation from Cherfilus-McCormick in July 2025, according to FEC filings.

The Palm Beach Democratic Party received a total of $3,000 from Cherfilus-McCormick between December 2021 and February 2022. Protecting Democracy PAC, the Florida congresswoman’s affiliated leadership PAC, also doled out $5,000 to the Palm Beach Democratic Party in October 2022.

The Florida Democratic Party and Palm Beach Democratic Party did not respond to requests for comment.

Cherfilus-McCormick is running for another third full term in November’s midterm elections, but it is unclear whether she will advance out of a crowded August 2026 primary. Left-wing activist Elijah Manley, 27, former Broward County Mayor Dale Holness and rapper Luther Campbell, known as Uncle Luke, are vying to unseat Cherfilus-McCormick in the deep-blue district.

Cherfilus-McCormick’s campaign website notably touts former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s support despite the one-time top Democrat not endorsing the indicted lawmaker in several years.

The Florida Democrat has also been charged with participating in a straw donor scheme and conspiring to file a false federal tax return. She has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the 15-count indictment.

Cherfilus-McCormick used some of the allegedly stolen funds on luxury personal items, including a Tesla, jewelry from Tiffany’s and designer clothing, according to the House investigative subcommittee.

House Democratic leadership has not demanded her resignation despite a fast-approaching ethics hearing scheduled for March 5.

A spokesperson for Cherfilus-McCormick did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Andi Shae Napier contributed to this report.

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