Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., ordered to post $60K bond on 15 charges of misusing $5M in COVID relief funds.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., was ordered to post a $60,000 bond after appearing in federal court on 15 charges related to allegedly misusing $5 million in COVID-19 relief funds meant for her family’s health care company, Trinity Healthcare Services. Prosecutors say the company received $5 million instead of $50,000 under a vaccine staffing contract and used over $100,000 to buy a 3-carat yellow diamond ring for her, with funds also distributed to friends and relatives who donated to her campaign. She denies the charges, calling them politically motivated, and plans to remain in office while fighting the case. A judge restricted her travel to Washington, D.C., Maryland, and the Eastern District of Virginia, and she must surrender her personal passport but may keep her congressional one.