Florida Democrat found guilty of House Ethics violations

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick illicitly funneled millions of dollars to her campaign and committed various campaign finance infractions, a bipartisan House Ethics subcommittee determined Friday — likely laying the groundwork for a vote by the full legislative body to expel the embattled Florida Democrat.

The panel's adjudicatory subcommittee, led by House Ethics Chair Michael Guest (R-Miss.), deliberated for well past midnight following an hours-long hearing that served as the panel’s first public “trial” in nearly 16 years. It found "clear and convincing" evidence that Cherfilus-McCormick was guilty of all but two of the 27 counts that had been brought against her.

Also facing related federal criminal charges in her home state, the three-term lawmaker is poised to come before the Ethics Committee again soon, when members of the committee will convene to consider what penalty to recommend to the full House.