U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) is under investigation for allegedly violating several House rules, including allegations that she misused congressional funds for a for-profit entity.

Investigators with the Office of Congressional Ethics found “substantial reason to believe” the congresswoman she sought money for a community project and directed it to a private business. The findings were revealed after an investigation that has been ongoing for the better part of a year.

Investigators also found “probable cause” to further investigate allegations that she accepted campaign contributions linked to official actions. Cherfilus-McCormick has denied the allegations and said she has fully cooperated with the investigation in a statement to WPTV.

The Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC) is now calling for a full scale probe concerning the $5 million she obtained from Congress’ 2023 budget, which was supposed to be routed to the Figgers Foundation, a Florida telemedicine non-profit. Instead, the funds were routed to a for-profit entity.

The Democrat lawmaker is also facing additional allegations of misusing funds dating back to 2023.

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

The OCC filed a referral into the potential misuse of Congressional funds about a year ago. Because the matter was still not resolved within the allotted timeframe, the House Ethics Committee had to release the OCC report, according to a report from Punchbowl News.

Investigators alleged that  Cherfilus-McCormick’s Congressional office could have “made payments to an entity in violation of House committee rules and standards of conduct.” In addition, the body found probable cause to suggest the Democrat lawmaker’s campaign may have “accepted and failed to report in-kind contributions that may have exceeded applicable limits.”

The report further claims Cherfilus-McCormick “may have dispensed special favors or privileges to friends in connection with her congressional office’s requests for community project funding,” in addition to allegations that she “misreported the source of a campaign contribution or accepted a campaign contribution made by one person in the name of another.”

In order for the allegations to be formally investigated by the Ethics Committee, the OCC needs to vote on each allegation. All five were cleared to move on to the next step of the probe with an investigative subcommittee.

“The Committee on Ethics has not yet concluded its review of the allegations, and no decision has been made at this time. As outlined in the Committee’s public statement, the referral for further review does not imply that any violation has occurred,” Cherfilus-McCormick said in a statement. “I fully respect the process and remain committed to cooperating with the Committee as it works to bring this inquiry to a close.”

Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick is no stranger to accusations of misusing congressional funds. In December 2023 a previous OCC referral against the lawmaker alleged that she violated campaign finance rules during her special election in 2022.

These same allegations will be further investigated along with those set to be reviewed by the investigative subcommittee.