Florida Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick's arraignment delayed as she maintains innocence in Miami federal case
U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick again declared her innocence Monday after a brief appearance outside a Miami federal courthouse, where her arraignment on charges tied to millions of dollars in FEMA COVID-19 disaster funds was postponed.
Cherfilus-McCormick was scheduled to be arraigned Monday afternoon, but her attorney asked that the hearing be rescheduled so she could finalize her legal team. Prosecutors did not object, and U.S. District Judge Lisette Reid agreed to move the arraignment to Jan. 20. The hearing lasted less than five minutes.
"I just want to make it very clear that I am innocent," Cherfilus-McCormick said as she left the courthouse. "In no way did I steal any kind of funds. I'm committed to the people of Florida and my district."
Arraignment delayed as South Florida congresswoman reiterates innocence
The South Florida Democrat has pleaded not guilty to 15 federal counts accusing her of conspiring to steal roughly $5 million in federal COVID-19 disaster funds. Prosecutors allege the money was overpaid in 2021 to Trinity Healthcare Services, a company run by members of her family that had a contract to register people for COVID-19 vaccinations.
According to the indictment, Cherfilus-McCormick's brother, Edwin Cherfilus, requested $50,000 under the contract but the company mistakenly received $5 million and failed to return the excess funds. Prosecutors allege the money was then routed through friends and relatives, with some of those funds later donated to Cherfilus-McCormick's congressional campaign.
Federal prosecutors also claim that within two months of receiving the funds, more than $100,000 was spent on a 3-carat yellow diamond ring for the congresswoman, an allegation that has fueled public scrutiny, including controversy over a recently altered photo posted by her office that appeared to remove a ring from her official portrait.
What prosecutors allege in the federal case
Cherfilus-McCormick's attorney, David Oscar Markus, pushed back strongly on the case, saying the allegations amount to administrative errors that typically would not be charged as felonies. He also said he believes the prosecution is politically motivated.
The congresswoman was arrested in November and later released on a $60,000 bond. As part of her release conditions, she was ordered to surrender her personal passport and is allowed to travel only between Florida, Washington, D.C., Maryland and the Eastern District of Virginia. She has been permitted to keep her congressional passport so she can carry out official duties.
The charges she faces include theft of government funds, money laundering, making and receiving straw donor contributions, aiding and assisting in the filing of a false tax return, and conspiracy related to each count.
If convicted, Cherfilus-McCormick could face decades in federal prison and millions of dollars in fines.
Cherfilus-McCormick was elected in a January 2022 special election to represent Florida's 20th Congressional District, which includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, following the death of Rep. Alcee Hastings in 2021.
In a previous statement, her chief of staff said Cherfilus-McCormick does not plan to resign from office and will continue cooperating with authorities as the case moves forward.
Her rescheduled arraignment is now set for Jan. 20.
This story includes information and reporting from The Associated Press.