Federal prosecutors have indicted Florida Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, alleging she misused millions in federal disaster aid to fuel her political rise.
According to NPR, the indictment claims the congresswoman pocketed $5 million in federal COVID relief through overpayments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). That money, originally meant to support vaccine staffing efforts, was funneled through her family-run healthcare business, Trinity Healthcare Services, and partially redirected into her 2021 congressional campaign.
Attorney General Pam Bondi slammed the alleged misuse, stating, “Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime. No one is above the law, least of all powerful people who rob taxpayers for personal gain.”
Cherfilus-McCormick has not publicly responded.
The charges stem from a broader investigation into Trinity Healthcare, which reportedly received millions during the pandemic. In late 2024, the Florida Division of Emergency Management demanded repayment after discovering the massive overpayment.
In early 2025, the Office of Congressional Ethics noted a spike in her personal income, up over $6 million from the previous year, mostly from Trinity’s consulting and profit-sharing fees.
Now, the House Ethics Committee is continuing its probe while the Justice Department builds its case.
