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 for arraignment, but her attorney requested a rescheduling to January 20 to finalize her legal team. The judge granted the request without objections from prosecutors. The brief hearing lasted under five minutes.
Following the session, Cherfilus-McCormick stated, 'I just want to make it very clear that I am innocent. In no way did I steal any kind of funds. I’m committed to the people of Florida and my district.'
As a Democrat who has pleaded not guilty, she is facing 15 federal counts related to funds overpaid to her family’s healthcare company, Trinity Healthcare Services, in 2021, a company that managed contracts for registering individuals for COVID-19 vaccinations.
Cherfilus-McCormick's attorney, David Oscar Markus, emphasized that the case concerns alleged mistakes typically regarded as minor, claiming political motivations behind the charges.
The Congresswoman was arrested in November and released on a $60,000 bond, with conditions that include surrendering her personal passport and limiting travel to Florida, Washington D.C., Maryland, and the Eastern District of Virginia.
Federal prosecutors assert that more than $100,000 of the received funds was spent on personal items, including a diamond ring for Cherfilus-McCormick. The indictment alleges she and her family did not return the surplus after an error led to the receipt of an excessive $5 million.
Moreover, the investigation points to funds being funneled into various accounts, with friends and relatives subsequently contributing to her campaign. Cherfilus-McCormick was elected in a special election in January 2022, taking over Florida’s 20th District seat following the death of Rep. Alcee Hastings.
The charges against her include theft of government funds, acceptance of straw donor contributions, assisting in misleading tax statements, money laundering, and conspiracy charges connected to each count.
Despite the serious allegations, a representative for Cherfilus-McCormick indicated she has no plans to resign her congressional position, insisting on her cooperation with ongoing legal inquiries.
Cherfilus-McCormick was scheduled for arraignment, but her attorney requested a rescheduling to January 20 to finalize her legal team. The judge granted the request without objections from prosecutors. The brief hearing lasted under five minutes.
Following the session, Cherfilus-McCormick stated, 'I just want to make it very clear that I am innocent. In no way did I steal any kind of funds. I’m committed to the people of Florida and my district.'
As a Democrat who has pleaded not guilty, she is facing 15 federal counts related to funds overpaid to her family’s healthcare company, Trinity Healthcare Services, in 2021, a company that managed contracts for registering individuals for COVID-19 vaccinations.
Cherfilus-McCormick's attorney, David Oscar Markus, emphasized that the case concerns alleged mistakes typically regarded as minor, claiming political motivations behind the charges.
The Congresswoman was arrested in November and released on a $60,000 bond, with conditions that include surrendering her personal passport and limiting travel to Florida, Washington D.C., Maryland, and the Eastern District of Virginia.
Federal prosecutors assert that more than $100,000 of the received funds was spent on personal items, including a diamond ring for Cherfilus-McCormick. The indictment alleges she and her family did not return the surplus after an error led to the receipt of an excessive $5 million.
Moreover, the investigation points to funds being funneled into various accounts, with friends and relatives subsequently contributing to her campaign. Cherfilus-McCormick was elected in a special election in January 2022, taking over Florida’s 20th District seat following the death of Rep. Alcee Hastings.
The charges against her include theft of government funds, acceptance of straw donor contributions, assisting in misleading tax statements, money laundering, and conspiracy charges connected to each count.
Despite the serious allegations, a representative for Cherfilus-McCormick indicated she has no plans to resign her congressional position, insisting on her cooperation with ongoing legal inquiries.
