Accused of Using Relief Funds to Buy 3-Carat Diamond, U.S. House Member Resigns

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Democrat, Florida), a member of the U.S. House of Representatives who was under suspicion of embezzlement, ultimately resigned while disciplinary procedures by the House Ethics Committee were underway.

According to the BBC and other outlets on the 21st (local time), Representative McCormick was referred to the Ethics Committee for a total of 25 alleged violations, including breaches of campaign finance law, and is currently facing a court trial. In particular, she has also been accused of misappropriating $5 million (about 7.39 billion won) in disaster relief funds during the COVID-19 pandemic for personal use, including purchasing a 3-carat diamond ring. If found guilty on all charges, Representative McCormick could face up to 53 years in prison.

Sila Cherfilus-McCormick, U.S. Representative. Photo by AP and Yonhap News.

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However, while announcing her resignation through her social media, Representative McCormick pushed back against the congressional investigation, calling it a "witch hunt." She denied the allegations, stating, "Rather than be swept up in political games, I choose to step down."

With Representative McCormick stepping down, pressure is mounting for Representative Cory Mills (Republican, Florida) to resign as well. Representative Mills is currently under investigation by the Ethics Committee over several allegations, including sexual misconduct, dating violence, and violations of campaign finance and gift rules.

Meanwhile, the U.S. House of Representatives is experiencing a string of resignations by lawmakers over ethical issues. Earlier this month, Eric Swalwell (Democrat, California) and Tony Gonzales (Republican, Texas), both embroiled in sexual misconduct allegations, chose to resign ahead of expulsion.

Expulsion from the House requires a two-thirds majority vote, provided a quorum is present. In the history of the U.S. House of Representatives, only six members-including George Santos (Republican, New York) in 2023-have ever been expelled.

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