Florida congresswoman accused of stealing COVID funds maintains
innocence
[December 30, 2025]
By DAVID FISCHER
MIAMI (AP) — U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick reiterated her
innocence Monday outside a Miami federal courthouse, where she faces
charges of conspiring to steal $5 million in federal COVID-19 disaster
funds.
Cherfilus-McCormick was scheduled to be arraigned, but her attorney
requested the proceeding be rescheduled to Jan. 20 so that she could
finalize her legal team. Prosecutors didn't object, and Judge Lisette
Reid agreed to the new date. The hearing lasted less than five minutes.
“I just want to make it very clear that I am innocent,” Cherfilus-McCormick
said immediately after leaving court. “In no way did I steal any kind of
funds. I'm committed to the people of Florida and my district.”
Cherfilus-McCormick, a Democrat, has pleaded not guilty. She is facing
15 federal counts that accuse her of stealing funds that had been
overpaid to her family's health care company, Trinity Healthcare
Services, in 2021. The company had a contract to register people for
COVID-19 vaccinations.
Cherfilus-McCormick's attorney, David Oscar Markus, said the case
involves mistakes that generally aren't even misdemeanors, let alone
felonies. He said he believes the case is politically motivated.
Cherfilus-McCormick was arrested in November and then freed on a $60,000
bond. In addition to bail, the judge said Cherfilus-McCormick must
surrender her personal passport, and is allowed to travel only between
Florida, Washington, D.C., Maryland and the Eastern District of
Virginia.
She has been allowed to retain her congressional passport so she can
perform certain duties for her job.
According to the federal indictment, prosecutors said that within two
months of receiving the funds in 2021, more than $100,000 had been spent
on a 3-carat yellow diamond ring for the congresswoman.
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U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., speaks to the
media after a hearing in federal court Monday, Dec. 29, 2025 in
Miami. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
The health care company owned by Cherfilus-McCormick's family had
received payments through a COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract,
the indictment said. Her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, requested
$50,000, but they mistakenly received $5 million and didn't return
the difference.
Prosecutors said the funds received by Trinity Healthcare were
distributed to various accounts, including to friends and relatives
who then donated to Cherfilus-McCormick's campaign for Congress.
Cherfilus-McCormick won a special election in January 2022 to
represent Florida’s 20th District, which includes parts of Broward
and Palm Beach counties, after Rep. Alcee Hastings died in 2021.
The charges she faces include theft of government funds; making and
receiving straw donor contributions; aiding and assisting a false
and fraudulent statement on a tax return; money laundering, as well
as conspiracy charges associated with each of those counts.
According to a previous statement provided by Cherfilus-McCormick's
chief of staff, she doesn't plan to resign from office. She said she
has cooperated with “every lawful request” and will continue to do
so until the matter is resolved.
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