Statement of the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics Regarding Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick
Pursuant to Committee Rule 7(g), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics (Committee) determined to release the following statement:
On December 27, 2023, the Committee announced it had voted to establish an Investigative Subcommittee (ISC) with jurisdiction to determine whether Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick may have: violated campaign finance laws and regulations in connection with her 2022 special election and/or 2022 re-election campaigns; failed to properly disclose required information on statements required to be filed with the House; and/or accepted voluntary services for official work from an individual not employed in her congressional office. In its December 27, 2023, announcement, the Committee explained it had determined to take this action based upon a review of a referral from the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) regarding these same matters. On May 29, 2024, OCE transmitted an additional referral to the Committee regarding allegations involving Representative Cherfilus-McCormick.
In accordance with House Rule XI, clause 3(o)(2), and Committee Rule 19(d), the Committee voted to expand the jurisdiction of the ISC’s inquiry regarding Representative Cherfilus-McCormick to include allegations based upon a review of OCE’s additional referral. Specifically, the ISC’s inquiry was expanded to include: Whether Representative Cherfilus-McCormick violated the Code of Official Conduct or any law, rule, regulation, or other standard of conduct applicable to the performance of her duties or the discharge of her responsibilities, with respect to allegations that Representative Cherfilus-McCormick: (1) engaged in improper conduct in connection with community project funding requests; (2) misused official funds for campaign purposes; and/or (3) violated campaign finance laws and regulations in connection with her 2024 re-election campaign.
The Committee notes that the mere fact of an investigation into these allegations does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred. No other public comment will be made on this matter except in accordance with Committee rules.
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