Democrats Prepare to Abandon Cherfilus-McCormick en Masse

Many House Democrats are ready to vote to expel Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) from Congress as soon as the House Ethics Committee meets to decide her fate on Tuesday, Axios has found in interviews with over 30 lawmakers.

Why it matters: Republicans are expected to force an expulsion vote, but they will need roughly 80 Democratic votes to remove Cherfilus-McCormick.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has carefully avoided saying how he might advise his members to vote, even if the committee reaches a bipartisan decision that she should be expelled.

House Democrats will meet as a caucus following the Ethics hearing, he told reporters on Monday, and “follow the facts and apply the relevant law without fear or favor.”

Cherfilus-McCormick, who is accused of laundering $5 million in COVID relief funds and funneling it to her campaign, has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty in her criminal trial.

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Between the lines: Lawmakers widely expect Ethics to recommend expulsion and, granted anonymity to speak candidly about internal caucus dynamics, said it may not even matter even if party leadership gets on board.

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Several House Democrats told Axios they expect Jeffries to privately nudge Cherfilus-McCormick to go of her own accord rather than force Democrats to take a difficult vote.

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