TALLAHASSEE, Florida — The state’s Republican-controlled Legislature is considering whether to give taxpayer money to a nonprofit organization — a politically connected leader — whose name surfaced in the House investigation into Rep. Sheila Cherfilas-McCormick.
The South Florida Democrat was found guilty of multiple ethics violations by a bipartisan subcommittee of the House ethics panel last week, a move that could leave him facing possible expulsion. He has denied all wrongdoing.
The main allegations centered on whether Cherfilas-McCormick improperly funneled millions into her congressional campaign. But a January report from the Office of Congressional Conduct revealed that the review also looked at federal funding that was given to a foundation led by Freddy Figures, a Broward County telecommunications executive with ties to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The office was partially reviewing whether Cherfilas-McCormick requested funds for a community project that went to a for-profit entity in possible violation of House rules; It was not mentioned in the final list of violations adopted by the subcommittee.
A January report from that office It was highlighted that $2.2 million was awarded to the Figures Foundation in 2022 to purchase tablets that will be provided to seniors and children with disabilities in the Cherfilas-McCormick district.
During the recently concluded regular legislative session in Tallahassee, Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate requested funding for the Figures Foundation for a tablet program. The Senate budget included $350,000 for the program, while the House budget appropriated $1 million. Two years ago, the tablet program received a $500,000 appropriation from the Legislature.
The Congressional Conduct Office report looked at whether the tablets and software were products of for-profit companies run by Figures and whether the program was designed to generate future customers for his telecommunications networks. The January report also questioned campaign donations to Cherfilas-McCormick from Figures and her family members, as well as money spent by her congressional office on constituent messaging services with Figures Enterprises. The report said a witness told investigators that soon after Cherfilas-McCormick took office in 2022, she asked a staffer to reach out to Figgins about funding for community projects and that she wanted him to submit a request.
Cherfilas-McCormick’s office did not respond to questions about the tablet program. Asked for comment, the Figures Foundation responded with a statement from Tampa attorney Lee Bentley, who serves as legal counsel for the organization.
He added that “Mr. Figures did not benefit from congressional funding, and he certainly did not make political donations to secure federal funds.” Politico previously reported that according to OpenSecrets, individuals or political action committees at Figgins Communications donated $19,800 to Cherfilas-McCormick’s campaign during the 2024 cycle.
Bentley said, “The House Ethics Committee report is riddled with factual errors; moreover, the report’s statement that Mr. and Mrs. Figures were uncooperative is patently false. Mr. and Mrs. Figures agreed to be interviewed, answered all questions asked of them, and produced all subpoenaed documents in their possession.”
Bentley also said the same “The charitable program at issue was badly underfunded, and Mr. Figgers made a significant personal donation to fund its work. The program ultimately provided the tablets needed to 5,000 families to meet their health care needs.
The chief of staff and chief counsel of the House Ethics Committee did not comment on Bentley’s statement.
Fig, whose mother abandoned him in his childhood And Joe, who grew up in the northern Florida town of Quincy, has a longtime relationship with DeSantis and accompanied him on an economic development trip to Japan shortly before the governor ran unsuccessfully for the presidency. DeSantis appointed him to the state Ethics Commission in 2023, but Figures was forced to step down from that position after the Florida Senate declined to confirm him.
DeSantis’ office did not respond to a request for comment.
At the time, Senate Republicans did not discuss why they declined to confirm Figures. But a background document on Figures requested by a state Senate committee, obtained by POLITICO through a public records request, included information from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement about several arrests — even though Figures was never convicted. There was also information from FDLE that was redacted when the report became available.
When asked about the arrest, Meredith Ivey, a spokeswoman for Figures, said that “The real story here is that Freddy Figures is a hero who was saving his elderly 81-year-old father, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s at the time, from physical abuse at the hands of another family member struggling with substance abuse. Charges were dismissed in these cases and it is unfortunate that anyone would assume malicious intent, when in fact, Freddy He put himself in harm’s way to save himself, dear late father.”
The Senate has twice confirmed Natalie Figures, who is married to Freddy Figures, to the Florida A&M University Board of Trustees.
A January report from the Congressional Conduct Office said that both Freddy and Natalie Figures “refused to cooperate” in the initial review and therefore the office could not determine whether the tablet program benefited their for-profit companies.
Last statement of violation The brief against Cherfilas-McCormick highlights whether she provided specific assistance in connection with community funding projects, but does not go into detail. That document does not name Figures directly, but instead quotes a “person” matching his description in testimony to an investigative subcommittee. The man told the committee that he did not recall anyone from the Congress office contacting him. He also told the committee that he was “not very confident” that the funding would be completed and that he never received a “promise” from Cherfilas-McCormick that the foundation’s request would be granted.
It’s unclear whether the program run by the Figures Foundation will ultimately receive funding from legislators this year because there is currently a budget impasse between the Florida House and Senate. Lawmakers ended their regular session without passing a new budget, but need to pass a new state budget by the end of June.
State Representative Jennifer Kinckart Johnson, the Lakeland Republican who requested funding for the program, said in an email, “I was not aware that the Figures Foundation or Mr. Figures were part of any congressional investigation.”
State Senator Tom Leak, an Ormond Republican who submitted a funding request for the tablet program in his chamber, said in a text message that “as you know, final funding decisions have not been made.” But Leake also said he was “completely unaware” of questions about federal funding to the Figures Foundation. He added: “Nor are I aware of any example outside of this where the legitimacy of the Figes Foundation or any other Figes entity has been questioned.”
The House ethics panel is expected to consider what punishment to impose on Cherfilas-McCormick when the chamber returns from recess, which could include potentially removing her from office. Cherfilas-McCormick was also indicted last year for allegedly stealing federal disaster relief funds and using some of the proceeds on her congressional campaign. He has declared himself innocent.
