Florida Lawmakers Consider Funding Amid Ethics Investigation of Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

The Florida House and Senate are deliberating on whether to allocate taxpayer funds to the Figgers Foundation, a nonprofit organization led by Freddie Figgers, a telecommunications executive with connections to Governor Ron DeSantis. This consideration comes in the wake of a bipartisan subcommittee of the House Ethics panel finding Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick guilty of multiple ethics violations, which could lead to her expulsion from Congress. Cherfilus-McCormick has denied any wrongdoing, with allegations primarily focusing on whether she improperly funneled millions to her campaign.

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A January report from the Office of Congressional Conduct examined whether Cherfilus-McCormick requested federal funding for a community project that may have benefited Figgers' for-profit entities, potentially violating House rules. The report highlighted a $2.2 million allocation in 2022 to the Figgers Foundation for a tablet program aimed at assisting senior citizens and children with disabilities in her district. During the recent legislative session, Republican lawmakers proposed $350,000 in the Senate budget and $1 million in the House budget for the same program.

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Cherfilus-McCormick's office did not respond to inquiries regarding the tablet program. In contrast, Lee Bentley, legal counsel for the Figgers Foundation, asserted that Figgers did not profit from congressional funding and denied any political donations aimed at securing federal money. Bentley emphasized that the program was underfunded and that Figgers made a personal donation to support it, which ultimately benefited 5,000 families.

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The fate of the Figgers Foundation's funding remains uncertain due to a budget stalemate between the Florida House and Senate, which has delayed the passage of a new state budget. Lawmakers must finalize the budget by the end of June. State Rep. Jennifer Kincart Jonsson and State Sen. Tom Leek, both Republicans who requested funding for the program, expressed unawareness of the congressional inquiry involving Figgers.

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The House Ethics Committee's report has faced criticism, with Bentley claiming it contains factual errors and mischaracterizations regarding the Figgers' cooperation with the investigation. The report noted that both Freddie and Natlie Figgers were uncooperative, a claim they dispute. Additionally, the report did not detail whether Cherfilus-McCormick provided special favors related to community funding projects.

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Cherfilus-McCormick is also facing separate legal challenges, having been indicted last year for allegedly misappropriating federal disaster relief funds for her congressional campaign. She has pleaded not guilty to these charges. The House Ethics panel is expected to determine the penalties for Cherfilus-McCormick upon the chamber's return from recess, which could include her removal from office.

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• “Mr. Figgers did not profit from Congressional funding, and he certainly did not make political donations to secure federal monies.” — Lee Bentley, Legal Counsel for Figgers Foundation

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• “the charitable program at issue was woefully underfunded, and Mr. Figgers made a significant personal donation to complete its work. The program ultimately served 5,000 families in need of tablets to meet their healthcare needs.” — Lee Bentley, Legal Counsel for Figgers Foundation

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• “I was not aware the Figgers Foundation or Mr. Figgers were a part of any congressional inquiry.” — State Rep. Jennifer Kincart Jonsson

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• “as you know, final funding decisions have not been made.” — State Sen. Tom Leek

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The ongoing investigation and legislative discussions surrounding Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and the Figgers Foundation highlight the complexities of ethics in political funding and the implications for community support programs in Florida.

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