24-7241

On May 29, 2024, the Office of Congressional Ethics transmitted a referral to the Committee on Ethics of the United States House of Representatives regarding Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.

Nature of the Review

Representative Cherfilus-McCormick may have requested community project funding that would be directed to a for-profit entity. If Representative Cherfilus-McCormick requested community project funding that would be directed to a for-profit entity, she may have violated House rules and standards of conduct.

Representative Cherfilus-McCormick may have accepted campaign contributions linked to an official action. If Representative Cherfilus-McCormick accepted campaign contributions linked to an official action, she may have violated House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law.

Representative Cherfilus-McCormick’s congressional office may have made payments to an entity in violation of House committee rules and standards of conduct; alternatively, her campaign may have accepted and failed to report in-kind contributions that may have exceeded applicable limits. If Representative Cherfilus-McCormick’s congressional office made payments to an entity in violation of House committee rules and standards of conduct—or if her campaign accepted and failed to report in-kind contributions, or if those in-kind contributions exceeded applicable limits—she may have violated House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law.

Representative Cherfilus-McCormick may have dispensed special favors or privileges to friends in connection with her congressional office’s requests for community project funding. If Representative Cherfilus-McCormick dispensed special favors or privileges to friends in connection with her congressional office’s requests for community project funding, she may have violated House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law.

Representative Cherfilus-McCormick’s campaign may have misreported the source of a campaign contribution or accepted a campaign contribution made by one person in the name of another. If Representative Cherfilus-McCormick’s campaign misreported the source of a campaign contribution or accepted a campaign contribution made by one person in the name of another, she may have violated House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law.

OCE Recommendation

The Board recommended that the Committee further review the above allegation concerning Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick because there is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick requested community project funding that would be directed to a for-profit entity.

The Board recommended that the Committee further review the above allegation concerning Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick because there is probable cause to believe that Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick accepted campaign contributions linked to an official action.

The Board recommended that the Committee further review the above allegation concerning Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick because there is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick’s congressional office made payments to an entity in violation of House committee rules and standards of conduct—or alternatively, that her campaign accepted and failed to report in-kind contributions that may have exceeded applicable limits.

The Board recommended that the Committee dismiss the above allegation concerning Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick because there is not substantial reason to believe that Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick dispensed special favors or privileges to friends in connection with her congressional office’s requests for community project funding.

The Board recommended that the Committee dismiss the allegation concerning Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick because there is not substantial reason to believe Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick’s campaign misreported the source of a campaign contribution or accepted a campaign contribution made by one person in the name of another.

Committee Action

On June 25, 2024, the Committee released a statement indicating the matter referred is currently within the jurisdiction of an Investigative Subcommittee (ISC). 

On May 29, 2025, the Committee announced it made public the OCE's Report, pursuant to House and Committee rules. If the ISC does not conclude its review before the end of the 119th Congress, the Committee shall make public the OCE's findings regarding this matter at the expiration of this Congress.