It should seem morally reprehensible that after an indictment such as Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has received that she should remain in Congress.
She should resign. But as much as that would affirm the aspirations of good people, we saw that the President of the United States was convicted of crimes and was not held responsible for his actions.
That bends the moral fiber of this country in a way that takes us down a very dark path. We are seeing this more and more.
If the congresswoman is guilty, she must be held responsible. Giving her room for a payback plan is a slap in the face to the citizens she serves, as well as Congress. We should be dubious of this potential penalty and not allow for an easy path to restitution, as has been suggested, and just forget this and move on with business as usual.
Andrew Behrman, Davie
Tried in the press
I have long been a Sun Sentinel subscriber, even after l moved out of Broward County six years ago, and have agreed with the editorial board’s viewpoints until now.
I think it is wrong how Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has already been tried in the press before the legal procedures have played out.
Your use of the phrase “stealing money” is an example. The complaint by FEMA was resolved through court acceptance of the dispute resolution concerning the overpayment due to a clerical error.
The congresswoman agreed to repayment over 19 years. Whether future legal action against her succeeds or not, it seems that the press has found her guilty prematurely, which has severely damaged her political future.
Nevertheless, l will keep reading your GREAT newspaper.
Mary Anne Robertson, Port St. Lucie
The writer is a retired attorney and a member of Legal Aid of Broward.
A huge red flag
As a former Broward law enforcement officer (retired from BSO after 37.5 years), when someone (in this case Cherfilus-McCormick) immediately starts playing the race card, it’s a huge red flag.
Paul Ruffini, Hollywood
A sweetheart deal
Your Nov. 22 editorial about U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McComick raised significant issues about the charges that she used $5.7 million in FEMA overpayments to her health care company to fund her campaign for Congress in 2021.
I do wish the editorial had mentioned the belated civil case that allows her company to repay that money over 19 years. It’s a sweetheart deal that is not available to others who had to repay mistaken overpayments by the government.
And will her company continue to be in business over those 19 years, or will it shed that financial obligation in a liquidation proceeding in the meantime?
William Payne, Fort Lauderdale
A rush to judgment
This is just a wild guess on my part, but here goes: Isn’t there a law that states that a person is innocent until proven guilty?
This query reflects today’s fast-paced life: Shoot first, ask questions later.
Carlos Garcia, Pembroke Pines
Self-aggrandizing sheriff
Broward County commissioners have acted appropriately. Sheriff Gregory Tony has not acted in a fiscally sound manner (“County holding free-spending sheriff responsible,” Steve Bousquet column, Nov. 23).
Pay raises were appropriately accounted for in the last several BSO budgets. The sheriff diverted those raises and funds for additional personnel to accommodate his whims, wishes and personal self-aggrandizement.
Now it’s time to pay the piper. Tighten your belt, explain the truth to BSO’s hard-working folks — sworn, civilian and fire-rescue — and then put your house in order. Stop trying to undermine the elected officials in Deerfield Beach. Your actions there have been embarrassing to the BSO.
Patti Lynn, Tamarac
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