Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned from Congress on Tuesday, just 20 minutes before the House Ethics Committee was set to vote on expelling her. The Florida Democrat faces charges of stealing $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster funds and funneling some of the money to her 2021 congressional campaign. She has denied any wrongdoing.

The 47-year-old lawmaker was indicted in November. The case carries a potential prison sentence of up to 53 years. The Ethics Committee held a rare public hearing into her conduct last month despite her lawyer arguing it would taint any criminal trial. The panel concluded she had committed ethics violations related to funneling FEMA money to her campaign. Pressure from lawmakers in both parties had been growing to expel her.

Cherfilus-McCormick wrote on social media that the committee refused to give her lawyers time to prepare her defense. She warned of punishing people "before due process is complete" and said "we do not allow allegations alone to override the will of the people." Her resignation follows a wave of recent congressional departures, including Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales, both facing separate misconduct allegations.