A Message From The Publisher
Editorial by Bobby R. Henry, Sr.
There comes a time when we must speak plainly, especially when the winds of accusation begin to blow unevenly across our political landscape. Today, I stand in support of confronting double standards —not to dismiss the seriousness of the charges brought against her, but to demand a level of scrutiny, fairness, and consistency that our nation seems increasingly unwilling to apply equally.
Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick has been indicted on allegations of misusing federal disaster relief funds and funneling money into her 2021 congressional campaign. The details of the indictment are now public, and she, like every citizen, is entitled to the presumption of innocence and the full protection of due process. She has retained competent counsel and vowed to fight to clear her name, as any committed public servant would.
But what struck me more deeply than the charges themselves was the statement issued by US Attorney General Pam Bondi, who said:
“No one is above the law, least of all powerful people who rob taxpayers for personal gain.”
A strong statement, one I certainly support in principle.
However, it is impossible to hear such words from Pam Bondi without confronting the glaring contradiction standing right beside her: she defends, supports, and stands aligned with a president who holds not allegations but 34 felony convictions, and who continues to enjoy unwavering political backing from the very people who now claim to be the guardians of justice.
Where was this righteous indignation when insurrection was incited?
Where was this “no one is above the law” energy when pardons were bartered like souvenirs?
Where was this moral clarity when democratic institutions were assaulted and truth itself was placed on trial?
This selective outrage is not justice it’s political theater. And the hypocrisy is deafening.
Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick has served the people of South Florida with diligence, accessibility, and an unwavering commitment to her constituents. She won her congressional seat in a razor-thin primary, a testament to grassroots organizing and community trust and then secured a decisive mandate in the general election. She has been a voice for vulnerable communities, for health equity, for economic opportunity, and for those often left behind in the political process.
If she has made mistakes, let the investigation proceed. Let the evidence speak. Let the courts do their job. That is the American way.
But let us be clear:
We will not allow her to be tried in the court of public opinion by individuals whose own moral compass spins according to political convenience.
Pam Bondi cannot preach about accountability while still polishing the image of a man who has been found guilty across jurisdictions from fraud to falsified business records to obstruction of justice. If we are to talk about “self-enrichment,” let us talk about the millions made from foreign governments at luxury hotels. If we are to talk about “rob taxpayers,” let us talk about the billions in tax-funded security, legal defenses, and political theatrics that continue to drain our nation.
If “no one is above the law,” then the standard must be equal for Democrats, for Republicans, for presidents and for representatives alike.
Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick deserves that fairness. She deserves that patience. And she deserves the chance to defend her record without being used as a convenient foil for political hypocrisy.
In South Florida, we know her work.
We know her commitment.
We know her fight for the underserved.
And until the facts are proven, we owe her something rare in today’s political climate the truth of due process and the dignity of fairness.
Let those who cry out for justice show they understand what the word actually means. “We all have fallen short…”
