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 to finalize her legal team. The judge granted 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.”
The Democrat has pleaded not guilty and is facing 15 federal counts accusing her of improperly obtaining funds overpaid to her family’s health care company through a COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract.
Cherfilus-McCormick’s attorney, David Oscar Markus, contends that these mistakes are not even misdemeanors, suggesting the case is politically driven.
Cherfilus-McCormick was arrested in November and later released on a $60,000 bond, with stipulations including the surrender of her personal passport and travel restrictions.
Prosecutors allege that funds were misallocated shortly after they were received, with a portion used to purchase a $100,000 diamond ring. The health care company involved allegedly redirected funds to Cherfilus-McCormick’s political campaign through personal connections.
Since her election in January 2022, she has stated she will not resign and intends to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigations.
