Allies of a former House Democrat under federal indictment are now facing potential criminal charges themselves.The House of Representatives unanimously agreed to hold two people in contempt of Congress on Tuesday — North Miami Beach, Florida, Mayor Michael Joseph and Hector Roos, a former aide to ex-Rep.Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla.
— for failing to work with the House Ethics Committee's investigation into the disgraced Sunshine State Democrat.It's now up to the Department of Justice (DOJ) whether it pursues criminal charges against both.A contempt of Congress conviction carries a fine of up to $100,000 and up to a year in jail.DISGRACED DEM CUT OFF FROM DOING BUSINESS WITH GOVERNMENT AFTER ALLEGED ‘OUTRIGHT FRAUD’ UNCOVEREDThen-Rep.
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick takes the oath of office during a ceremonial swearing-in ceremony at Broward County Governmental Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Jan.18, 2022.
(Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)"The committee cannot fulfill its obligations to safeguard the integrity of the House for witnesses, ignore its subpoenas, and the House cannot accept such willful disregard of its authorities.Mr.
Roos and Mr.Joseph willfully fail to comply with multiple subpoenas issued by the committee," Committee Chairman Michael Guest, R-Miss., said."They impeded the investigative subcommittee's investigations into the allegations concerning former Representative Cherfilus-McCormick.
Those allegations were serious and included violations of federal law to which Mr.Roos and Mr.
Joseph were party there.Their conduct warrants referrals to the United States Department of Justice for contempt of Congress."MIKE JOHNSON SAYS HE SUPPORTS EXPELLING SHEILA CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK OVER DOZENS OF ETHICS VIOLATIONSThe measure passed by voice vote on Tuesday afternoon, meaning lawmakers were not individually put on the record over where they stand.
Any lawmaker can stand and object to a voice vote ...