Jeffries has remained silent as Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick faces the threat of expulsion
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A bipartisan group of lawmakers found Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., is guilty of more than a dozen ethics violations, but the House Democratic leadership is standing by her embattled colleague.
“As I understand it, the Ethics Committee has one last step in its process, so I’m not going to leave before the Ethics Committee process will be completed when we come back,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said Friday morning. “Then I’ll have something else to say.”
Chairman of the House Democratic Conference Rep. Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., also told Punchbowl News on Friday that he had not seen the ethics panel’s findings, but added that “that doesn’t sound good” when he was told the panel determined he committed 25 ethics violations. Those charges include money laundering, making false statements on campaign finance reports and seeking special favors from companies that receive federal funding.
INDICTED DEMOCRAT REP. SHEILA CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK ONE STEP CLOSER TO FIRE
An eight-member House Ethics subcommittee ruled Friday that Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., committed 25 violations of House rules, which could lead to her expulsion from the House of Representatives. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
The Florida Democrat faces a separate felony charge that could lead to more than fifty years in prison if convicted. Cherfilus-McCormick, who has pleaded not guilty, is accused of illegally diverting millions in disaster relief funds improperly paid to her family’s health care company to finance her run for Congress and luxury purchases, including a large diamond ring.
The House Ethics Committee said it will announce Cherfilus-McCormick’s recommended punishment in April, which could be as severe as expulsion. Under House rules, a two-thirds majority would have to support a resolution to formally remove the Florida Democrat from the chamber.
Jeffries’ refusal thus far to criticize Cherfilus-McCormick’s behavior reflects the relative silence of the Democratic caucus, although some high-ranking members are beginning to break their silence about the Florida Democrat.
Moderate Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., was the first Democratic lawmaker to issue a public statement Friday calling for Cherfilus-McCormick to resign or be removed following the conviction.
“You cannot commit a crime by entering into legal capacity,” Gluesenkamp Perez wrote. “Since he was found guilty, he must resign or be expelled.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y. so far he has refused to criticize Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McComrick, an indicted attorney facing the threat of disbarment. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images; Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
HOUSE DEMOCRAT ACCUSES PUBLIC COLLEAGUE OF VIOLATING ‘FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS’ IN STUNNING COMMUNITY STATE
A number of other Democrats in Congress said on Friday that they would consider supporting an impeachment decision if the impeached lawmaker does not go of his own accord.
A spokesman for Jeffries did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Despite the threat of further evictions, Cherfilus-McCormick has given no indication that she will resign. He is also running for a fourth term in the mid-term elections in November.
“I look forward to proving my innocence,” Cherfilus-McCormick said in a statement Friday. “Until then, my focus is on this: to show the great people of the 20th District of Florida who sent me to Washington to fight for them.”
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., became the first congressional Democrat to ask Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick to resign or be removed following the conclusion of the House ethics hearing. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
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The National Republican Democratic Committee (NRCC), the campaign arm of House Republicans, lamented Congressional Democrats’ lack of outrage over Cherfilus-McCormick’s behavior.
“The Ethics Committee just confirmed that Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick broke the rules, and House Democrats are saying nothing,” NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella said Friday. “Their silence is a choice. Democrats can stand for accountability or continue to protect a proven lawbreaker, but voters will never forget it.”
