Ethics Panel to hold rare public hearing over Cherfilus-McCormick allegations

The House Ethics Committee plans a rare, open adjudicatory hearing to decide whether there is clear and convincing evidence of charges against Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, following a 59-page report alleging a $5 million government overpayment laundered to her family’s business and related campaign-finance irregularities. Cherfilus-McCormick has pleaded not guilty. An eight-member adjudicatory subcommittee will meet March 5, 2026; such open hearings are unusual for the panel, with last televised Ethics proceedings dating to 2012. Expulsion, if pursued, would require a two-thirds vote and may be kept in process until Ethics concludes its review.