MIAMI — U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Florida, appeared in a Miami federal courtroom on Tuesday, nearly a week after she was indicted on accusations that she stole $5 million in disaster relief funds.

Shortly after facing a judge, the 46-year-old congresswoman said, once again, the charges against her are a “sham,” but federal prosecutors are not backing down.

Cherfilus-McCormick‘s attorneys walked into the Miami federal courthouse Tuesday, preparing to fight the long list of charges, including conspiracy to commit money laundering and filing a false tax return.

“The congresswoman is innocent and we are going to prove that,” attorney Lauren Krasnoff said.

Cherfilus-McCormick was indicted, along with three others, after prosecutors said she stole $5 million in FEMA overpayments to her health care company and funneled some of that money into her 2021 congressional campaign. They said she also used money to buy a 3.14-carat yellow diamond ring.

Authorities allege that a health care company she ran with her brother was overpaid the $5 million for a vaccination staffing contract.

The indictment claims that funds were used through multiple accounts to disguise their source, saying a portion of the money was funneled to family and friends who then donated to the campaign.

Cherfilus-McCormick has denied any wrongdoing.

“The federal government ― DOJ ― decided to indict a black Democratic congresswoman without giving her attorneys the opportunity to meet with them and to discuss the circumstances," Krasnoff said.

A judge set the congresswoman’s bond at $60,000 and ordered her to surrender her passport.

The judge said that she is still allowed to travel to Washington D.C., Maryland and the Eastern District of Virginia as she continues to perform her duties in the House of Representatives.

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