Judge tosses $1 million lawsuit as indicted Congresswoman faces federal charges
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick sued one of her opponents in the race to keep her seat, but her attempt was unsuccessful.
Cherfilus-McCormick, of Miramar, was indicted along with several family members who allegedly rerouted that money to her campaign, according to court documents.
Her arraignment date is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 20, for her to make a plea on accusations that she stole $5 million in FEMA funds.
Before Cherfilus-McCormick was indicted on Nov. 19, Democratic congressional candidate Elijah Manley claimed the congresswoman did not return funds mistakenly remitted to her health care company.
Cherfilus-McCormick then filed a defamation lawsuit against Manley for $1 million in damages.
On Jan. 12, Manley announced in a news release that a judge dropped the lawsuit, due to Cherfilus-McCormick’s “failure to serve.” Court documents show the judge dismissed the lawsuit on Jan. 8.
“Cherfilus-McCormick failed to serve me this lawsuit for one simple reason: She knows what we all know to be true. She stole $5 million from FEMA, from her constituents and American taxpayers,” Manley said in the release.
“I will explore all available legal remedies, including a $1 million countersuit for tortious interference, abuse of process, defamation of character, and malicious prosecution.”
Manley is running against Cherfilus-McCormick for her District 20 seat, which represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties.
In a statement to the Miramar News on Jan. 13, Cherfilus-McCormick’s lawyer Michael Pizzi said, “Mr. Manley strategically ducked service for a period of months, which resulted in the dismissal without prejudice with leave to refile.”
He claims Manley provided addresses where he was “nowhere to be found.”
“He can run but he cannot hide from his false smearing on the [Congresswoman],” the statement continues.
Manley told the Miramar News on Nov. 25 that though he had not been served yet, he would move to dismiss it when that happens.
In a campaign video posted to Manley’s Instagram account in June, he said, “Our current congressperson, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, took $5.7 million from the taxpayers, and that really shows bad judgment on her part.”
This story was originally published January 12, 2026 at 5:15 PM.
