House Ethics probe uncovers shell companies, mayoral involvement, and “impermissible corporate contributions” in new scandal compounding federal fraud charges
Miami, FL – February 17, 2026 A bombshell exclusive published today by the Miami Herald has revealed fresh allegations against Haitian-American U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20), accusing her campaign, family members, and advisers of orchestrating a scheme to secretly funnel more than $800,000 from a politically connected Haitian oil company into her 2022 reelection effort.
The House Ethics Committee investigation, detailed in the Herald report, points to funds allegedly originating from PetroGaz-Haiti S.A., a Haitian oil firm with ties to influential figures. According to the probe, the money was routed through shell companies and intermediaries — including entities set up by Cherfilus-McCormick’s closest advisers and her husband — to conceal the source and avoid federal campaign finance disclosure rules.
The Herald describes the transactions as “impermissible corporate contributions” that supported significant campaign expenditures during her successful 2022 special election victory. Several South Florida mayors from the Haitian-American community are also implicated, with evidence suggesting they facilitated connections between Cherfilus-McCormick’s camp and the oil company executives.
This new campaign-finance scandal is entirely separate from the federal criminal charges Cherfilus-McCormick already faces in Miami federal court. There, she stands accused of misusing over $5 million in stolen COVID-19 relief funds tied to her family’s health care company to help fund her initial congressional run in 2022.
In an exclusive interview with Local 10 News anchor Glenna Milberg, Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick strongly denied any wrongdoing, calling the allegations part of a Republican “smear campaign” and “pressure campaign” designed to force her resignation or push her out of her district to affect House numbers.
The congresswoman represents Florida’s 20th District, which includes a large Haitian-American population in Broward and Palm Beach counties. She made history as the first Haitian-American Democrat elected to Congress in 2022.
The House Ethics Committee has not yet released its full report publicly, and no formal charges have been filed in connection with the campaign-finance allegations. However, the Miami Herald’s reporting — based on committee documents — has intensified scrutiny on Cherfilus-McCormick at a time when her federal case remains ongoing.
L’Union Suite will continue to follow both the Ethics probe and the criminal proceedings, including any responses from Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick’s office or legal team. We will also track community reactions in South Florida’s Haitian diaspora, where the congresswoman has long been a prominent voice.
Stay tuned for updates.
