Greg Steube starts push to expel Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick from Congress

U.S Rep. Greg Steube wants Congress to expel U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick immediately. He announced on social media he will file a privileged resolution on Thursday calling for the move.

The Sarasota Republican is pushing the drastic measure a day after a federal grand jury indicted the Miramar Democrat on charges she stole $5 million in COVID funds to finance her 2021 congressional campaign.

“Defrauding the federal government and disaster victims of $5 million is an automatic disqualifier from serving in elected office,” Steube posted on X.

“Cherfilus-McCormick needs to be swiftly removed from the House before she can inflict any more harm on Congress, her district, and the State of Florida. I’ll be filing the resolution today. If she refuses to resign and save Congress the embarrassment of having to expel her, I will bring this resolution to the floor for a vote.”

Steube initially said late Wednesday he wanted to censure Cherfilus-McCormick, shortly after the Justice Department announced the charges. But he said the following morning he had second thoughts and felt the House should proceed directly to expulsion.

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Thursday announced Cherfilus-McCormick would step down as ranking member of the House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, but made no mention of whether she would resign.

Cherfilus-McCormick’s communications team has referred all questions to the Congresswoman’s Chief of Staff, Naomie Pierre-Louis.

“Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick has taken a temporary leave from her committee leadership position to ensure the committee can fully focus on continuing the good fight for the America people, as she continues to fight to clear her good name,” Pierre-Louis said. “Her committee memberships remain in tact.”

The House Ethics Committee already has an investigation underway on the allegations and in May issued a report detailing potential criminal acts.

In indictment filed by the Justice Department says Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, secured funding intended for a COVID vaccine distribution program, but when overpayments to their nonprofit organization were made, she routed the spending through several accounts that later donated the funds as campaign contributions.

Should Cherfilus-McCormick be found guilty of all counts in the indictment, the 46-year-old could face up to 53 years in prison, according to the Justice Department.

Of note, the House on Wednesday night voted to refer a censure resolution of U.S. Rep. Cory Mills, a New Smyrna Beach Republican, to the House Ethics Committee. Cherfilus-McCormick was not present for that vote. The last vote she cast was at 8:46 p.m.