Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick resigns ahead of ethics probe into use of campaign funds

[0:00] AMNA NAWAZ- Another member of Congress has resigned yet again under allegations of misconduct. [0:05] Florida Democrat Sheila Sherfalis McCormick was due to face the House Ethics Committee [0:09] today to determine her punishment after it concluded she committed large-scale financial [0:15] fraud, money laundering and other violations. [0:18] This comes just a week after Representatives Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzalez resigned amid [0:23] accusations of sexual misconduct. [0:25] Lisa Desjardins has been following it all and joins us now. [0:28] So Lisa, let's start with Congresswoman Sherfalis McCormick. [0:30] Why did she step down now? [0:32] As you said, we know the timing. [0:33] This was just minutes she announced her resignation before that hearing from the House Ethics Panel [0:38] was to recommend a possible punishment for her, possibly expulsion. [0:43] Now that same panel had found she violated 25 House rules and they range, as you say, from [0:50] money laundering to campaign finance issues to financial fraud. [0:55] So talking about those even more specifically, the most serious of those violations had to [0:59] do with $5 million in COVID funding that was sent to her nonprofit organization, but which [1:05] she kept and the organization kept some of it allegedly being funneled to her campaign [1:10] and to herself personally. [1:12] Now, she's also facing a criminal case, and this is what she says is the reason she did [1:17] not cooperate with the Ethics Committee that she was holding back because of the criminal [1:21] case. [1:22] So let's look at her statement of resignation today. [1:24] She said specifically, this was not a fair process, meaning the ethics process. [1:28] The Ethics Committee refused my new attorney's reasonable request for time to prepare my defense. [1:33] By going forward with this process, while a criminal indictment is pending, the committee [1:37] she prevented me from defending myself. [1:39] Now members on the ethics panel who have been investigating her for some two years defended [1:45] their process. [1:46] They say she had ample opportunity to defend herself. [1:50] The process worked in some ways in that she decided to resign instead of face any consequences [1:55] that may be coming her way. [1:57] And certainly the process over the past two years was able to uncover a lot of evidence in [2:03] some ways, but in other ways, it was two years, it was a long time. [2:07] And so, you know, I'd like to see us move faster in the future, and I have a couple of ideas [2:11] on how we can do that. [2:13] The committee also said the House has a right to have ethics investigations even if criminal [2:17] cases are pending separately. [2:18] Meanwhile, I know you're tracking another effort. [2:21] There's a call for the expulsion of another House member. [2:24] Remind us who we're talking about and where that effort stands. [2:26] We've mentioned him before, but now there'll be more spotlight on this Florida Republican. [2:30] His name is Corey Mills. [2:31] Now, Mills is facing several accusations. [2:34] Police investigated a domestic assault call against him last year in Washington. [2:38] The woman involved did not press charges, but body cam video obtained by the Washington [2:43] Post recorded Mills telling officers that he was going to call the attorney general. [2:48] Separately, a protective order against him was filed by a different woman in Florida, and [2:53] he also faces campaign finance violation charges as well. [2:57] I managed to speak with Mills at length today, and he's defiant. [3:01] He says he's eager to defend himself. [3:03] He says he has not been charged with anything, and he's happy to go through the ethics process. [3:08] However, at least one Republican so far is talking about expulsion from him. [3:14] That's Nancy Mays of South Carolina. [3:15] She's introduced a bill to expel Corey Mills. [3:18] She hasn't put it on the fast track net yet. [3:20] I spoke to another key figure who may help determine where this goes. [3:24] Lauren Boebert of Colorado. [3:27] She said she would consider expulsion perhaps. [3:29] She's not impressed with his denials. [3:31] I mean, who hasn't denied allegations? [3:36] Everybody does. [3:37] So, I mean, you have temporary restraining orders. [3:39] You have body cam footage of stories changing. [3:42] I don't know. [3:43] So, we'll see if the vote comes up. [3:45] I'm not going to answer on hypotheticals right now. [3:47] So, we will see. [3:49] The ethics process continues. [3:50] We don't know when it will end. [3:51] Sometimes it takes years. [3:52] Meanwhile, we know there's some new data on the state of misconduct on the Hill. [3:56] What did we learn? [3:57] I want to draw attention to this report from a non-partisan group that focuses on sexual [4:01] harassment, especially in the workplace. [4:03] Now, the National Women's Defense League found 30 different members of Congress have been [4:07] accused of sexual harassment since 2006. [4:11] They found 77% of those cases involved staffers. [4:14] Now, this is public reporting only, and that's an important factor because, of course, this [4:19] group and anyone who's covered this area believes and finds data to support there is massive [4:25] underreporting. [4:26] So, this is only what we know in public, and it's just a tip of the iceberg situation. [4:31] There's a lot of conversation on the Hill. [4:32] I hope it continues, but we will have to see what else is uncovered or if the climate change [4:38] is there. [4:39] Lisa Desjardins, thank you so much. [4:40] You're welcome. 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