Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick's sudden resignation Tuesday has triggered a wave of buyer's remorse among House Democrats, with some now openly regretfing their vote to expel George Santos just months earlier. The timing, minutes before the Ethics Committee would have recommended sanctions, has exposed what Democratic lawmakers view as a dangerous rush to judgment that could reshape how Congress handles misconduct allegations.
Cherfilus-McCormick, a Florida Democrat, quit rather than face expulsion over accusations that she funneled 5 million dollars in misallocated COVID relief funds into her campaign. The Ethics Committee had found her guilty on multiple counts. She maintained her innocence but said the process was rigged because she could not mount a proper defense while awaiting a criminal trial on the same charges.
Her exit has forced uncomfortable conversations within the Democratic caucus about whether the party went too far with Santos. Rep. Hank Johnson of Georgia now says he regrets voting to expel the New York Republican, arguing that lawmakers should not remove members based on indictments before conviction or guilty pleas. "We have gone a little too far with starting that precedent with George Santos," Johnson told Axios.
The number of Democrats expressing second thoughts is substantial. Rep. Jonathan Jackson of Illinois, one of just four Democrats who voted against Santos' expulsion, said colleagues have privately told him they wish they had done the same. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri indicated similar conversations are happening across the caucus.
The Santos expulsion passed 311 to 114 in 2023 after the Ethics Committee accused him of operating a "complex web of unlawful activity." He was later convicted of wire fraud and identity theft and sentenced to 87 months in prison, though President Trump issued him a pardon. But Santos did eventually plead guilty, validating the expulsion in hindsight. Cherfilus-McCormick's decision to resign before facing that vote has muddied the waters considerably.
The fallout now threatens to shape responses to future misconduct cases. Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina has announced plans to file a privileged motion next week demanding a vote to expel Republican Cory Mills of Florida over allegations of domestic abuse, financial misconduct, and stolen valor. Mills has denied the charges and told Axios he will not resign.
But even some Democrats say they are uneasy moving forward with Mills' expulsion while his Ethics Committee investigation remains open. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove of California questioned the entire premise of Congress acting before courts and investigators complete their work. "Why we think we should get in front of cases, judges, charges, juries, is beyond me," she said, adding that Mace and Mills should handle their dispute outside the chamber.
Not all Democrats agree. Rep. Greg Meeks of New York suggested the Cherfilus-McCormick resignation actually demonstrates the need to move faster on expulsions like Mills', saying consistent standards must apply regardless of party.
The debate cuts to the core of how Congress polices itself. Lawmakers who voted against Santos' expulsion, mostly members of the Congressional Black Caucus, argued from the start that due process required waiting for the criminal system to work. Cherfilus-McCormick's situation appears to have vindicated their concern that the Ethics process alone may be insufficient and that forcing votes before trials conclude could trap members who deserve their day in court.
Author James Rodriguez: "The Santos precedent was supposed to clean up Congress, but instead it's become a cautionary tale about the dangers of moving fast and breaking institutional norms."
Comments