Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is fundraising off of charges she stole $5M from FEMA

Democratic U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is staying true to the old maxim, “Never let a crisis go to waste.”

This week, her re-election campaign sent texts to voters imploring them to donate to help her in “fighting back” against what she calls a “politically motivated” attack against her.

She’s referring, of course, to federal charges filed in November accusing her of stealing $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds to bankroll her 2021 congressional campaign.

“2 weeks ago, I took a stand and voted to demand transparency, truth and accountability from our leaders. The next day, the attacks began. An indictment was filed. This was not random. This was politically motivated retaliation,” the text said.

“But this isn’t about silencing one person. It’s about sending a clear message to anyone who dares to challenge powerful interests: ‘Fall in line — or pay the price. Well, I’m fighting back — but I need you with me. DONATE NOW.”

The text then links to a donations page that, among other things, says, “She voted for the truth. They answered with retaliation.”

A perusal of Cherfilus-McCormick’s votes from around two weeks back reveals what she is likely referring to: “yes” votes on measures concerning the release of files connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Notably, none of the 426 other members of the House who voted to release the Epstein files were federally indicted for embezzling COVID funds in recent weeks.

The grand jury indictment against Cherfilus-McCormick, announced Nov. 19, alleges she and her brother secured funding intended for a COVID vaccine distribution program, but when overpayments were made, she rerouted the money through several accounts that later donated to her campaign.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi described the alleged act as “a particularly selfish, cynical crime.”

Cherfilus-McCormick, 46, has maintained and reiterated that she is innocent of wrongdoing, calling the charges “unjust” and “baseless.”

“The timing alone is curious and clearly meant to distract from far more pressing national issues,” she said a day after the indictment was announced, noting that she has “fully cooperated” with a yearslong investigation into the matter. “I look forward to my day in court. Until then, I will continue fighting for my constituents.”

Should Cherfilus-McCormick be found guilty of all counts in the indictment, she could face up to 53 years in prison.

Cherfilus-McCormick isn’t the only federal lawmaker from Florida to fundraise off of her legal travails. Last year, following a House Ethics Committee report that there was “substantial evidence” he paid for sex, including with a 17-year-old, former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz sent out a fundraising plea citing his troubles.

“I need your help,” Gaetz, a Republican, said in an email through his political committee last December. “I’ve fought for you in Congress for eight years against the worst of the Radical Left and Uniparty. Now, they’re seeking their revenge.”

Gaetz, who resigned the month before, called the scrutiny over his alleged impropriety a “witch hunt.”

Former Republican U.S. Rep. George Santos of Long Island used the exact phrase to describe the fraud and money-laundering charges he faced in May 2023, about seven months before his peers in the House expelled him.

Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Steube introduced a resolution last month to expel Cherfilus-McCormick. Other than its referral to the Ethics Committee, no action has been taken on the bill.

Cherfilus-McCormick represents Florida’s 20th Congressional District, which spans parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties. She faces Primary challenges from Dale Holness and Elijah Manley, the latter of whom she is suing for defamation over the FEMA funds issue.

Republicans Sendra Dorce and Rodenay Joseph are also running in the district, which leans heavily Democratic.

Florida Politics contacted Cherfilus-McCormick’s Communications Director, Kailyn McBride, seeking comment about the Congresswoman’s texts, but received no response.

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Jacob Ogles contributed to this report.