House lawmaker's desperate attempt to kill campaign finance investigation thrown out

The House Ethics Committee blocked a Democratic lawmaker's desperate attempt to kill a campaign finance investigation on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the committee met to consider a motion from Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) to stay the committee's investigation while she fights a criminal proceeding over the same charges. She also asked the committee to hold any future meetings with her team in executive session, which would prevent the public from viewing the meeting or reading any meeting minutes.

"After careful deliberation, the adjudicatory subcommittee voted unanimously to deny both motions," the ethics committee said in a news release on Wednesday. "The matter of Representative Cherfilus-McCormick has been before the Committee since September 2023. Further delay of the matter would not serve the interests of justice."

"Moreover, holding the entire hearing in executive session at this phase of the proceedings would depart from Committee precedent, limit public transparency around these serious allegations, and do nothing to safeguard the House’s integrity," it added.

Cherfilus-McCormick was initially accused of misusing up to $6 million in campaign and federal emergency management funds for personal expenses. Earlier this year, the House Ethics Committee found "substantial evidence" that the lawmaker had misused the funds.

Cherfilus-McCormick has denied all wrongdoing.