Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick resigns ahead of ethics probe into use of campaign funds

Amna Nawaz:

Another member of Congress has resigned, yet again under allegations of misconduct. Florida Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick was due to face the House Ethics Committee today to determine her punishment after it concluded she committed large-scale financial fraud, money laundering and other violations.

This comes just a week after representatives Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales resigned amid accusations of sexual misconduct.

Lisa Desjardins has been following it all and joins us now.

So, Lisa, let's start with Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick. Why did she step down now?

Lisa Desjardins:

As you said, we know the timing. This was just minutes she announced her resignation before that hearing from the House Ethics panel was to recommend a possible punishment for her, possibly expulsion.

Now, that same panel had found she violated 25 House rules. And they range, as you say, from money laundering to campaign finance issues to financial fraud. So, talking about those even more specifically, the most serious of those violations had to do with $5 million in COVID funding that was sent to her nonprofit organization, but which she kept, and the organization kept some of it, allegedly being funneled to her campaign and to herself personally.

Now, she's also facing a criminal case. And this is what she says is the reason she did not cooperate with the Ethics Committee, that she was holding back because of the criminal case. So let's look at her statement of resignation today.

She said specifically: "This was not a fair process," meaning the Ethics process. "The Ethics Committee refused my new attorney's reasonable request for time to prepare my defense. By going forward with this process while a criminal indictment is pending, the committee prevented me from defending myself."

Now, members on the Ethics panel who have been investigating her for some two years defended their process. They say she had ample opportunity to defend herself.

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA):

The process worked in some ways, in that she decided to resign, instead of face any consequences that may be coming her way. And certainly the process over the past two years was able to uncover a lot of evidence in some ways.

But, in other ways, it was two years. It was a long time. And so I'd like to see us move faster in the future, and I have a couple of ideas on how we can do that.

Lisa Desjardins:

The committee also said the House has a right to have Ethics investigations even if criminal cases are pending separately.

Amna Nawaz:

Meanwhile, I know you're tracking another effort. There's a call for the expulsion of another House member. Remind us who we're talking about and where that effort stands.

Lisa Desjardins:

We have mentioned him before, but now there will be more spotlight on this Florida Republican. His name is Cory Mills. Now, Mills is facing several accusations.

Police investigated a domestic assault call against him last year in Washington. The woman involved did not press charges, but bodycam video obtained by The Washington Post recorded Mills telling officers that he was going to call the attorney general. Separately, a protective order against him was filed by a different woman in Florida. And he also faces campaign finance violation charges as well.

I managed to speak with Mills at length today, and he's defiant. He says he's eager to defend himself. He says he has not been charged with anything and he's happy to go through the Ethics process. However, at least one Republican so far is talking about expulsion for him. That's Nancy Mace of South Carolina. She's introduced a bill to expel Cory Mills.

She hasn't put it on the fast track yet. I spoke to another key figure who may help determine where this goes. That's Lauren Boebert of Colorado. She said she would consider expulsion perhaps. She's not impressed with his denials.

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO):

I mean, who hasn't denied allegations? Everybody does. So, I mean, you have temporary restraining orders. You have bodycam footage, stories changing. I don't know. So, we will see if the vote comes up. I'm not going to answer on hypotheticals right now.

Lisa Desjardins:

So we will see. The Ethics process continues. We don't know when it will end. Sometimes, it takes years.

Amna Nawaz:

Meanwhile, we know there's some new data on the state of misconduct on the Hill. What did we learn?

Lisa Desjardins:

I want to draw attention to this report from a nonpartisan group that focuses on sexual harassment, especially in the workplace.

Now, the National Women's Defense League found 30 different members of Congress have been accused of sexual harassment since 2006. They found 77 percent of those cases involved staffers. Now, this is public reporting only, and that's an important factor, because, of course, this group and anyone who's covered this area believes and it finds data to support there is massive underreporting.

So this is only what we know in public, and it's just a tip-of-the-iceberg situation. There's a lot of conversation on the Hill. I hope it continues, but we will have to see what else is uncovered or if the climate changes there.

Amna Nawaz:

Lisa Desjardins, thank you so much.

Lisa Desjardins:

You're welcome.