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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFlorida GOP author of "Don't Say Gay" law pleads guilty to COVID fraud
https://www.salon.com/2023/03/22/florida-author-of-dont-say-gay-law-pleads-guilty-to-fraud--faces-up-to-35-years/?Former Florida state Rep. Joseph Harding, who sponsored the so-called "Don't Say Gay" law banning the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the state's primary school classrooms, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to fraudulently obtaining tens of thousands of dollars from a federal COVID relief program.
Harding at his hearing in the U.S. District Court for Northern Florida submitted a guilty plea for a single count each of wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements stemming from a six-count indictment in December, NBC News reported.
Harding, who resigned from his state House seat after his indictment, admitted to the crimes, reversing his earlier "not guilty" plea. A new court filing obtained by NBC found that the former lawmaker acknowledged that he made false statements when submitting an application for an economic injury disaster loan in December 2020. The company he listed had no business activity and was dormant at the time.
Harding fraudulently obtained $150,000 in COVID relief funds from the Small Business Administration, and then made three transfers, each more than $10,000, to his joint bank account in order to pay off his credit card and into a bank account for a business entity, the court documents showed.
Harding at his hearing in the U.S. District Court for Northern Florida submitted a guilty plea for a single count each of wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements stemming from a six-count indictment in December, NBC News reported.
Harding, who resigned from his state House seat after his indictment, admitted to the crimes, reversing his earlier "not guilty" plea. A new court filing obtained by NBC found that the former lawmaker acknowledged that he made false statements when submitting an application for an economic injury disaster loan in December 2020. The company he listed had no business activity and was dormant at the time.
Harding fraudulently obtained $150,000 in COVID relief funds from the Small Business Administration, and then made three transfers, each more than $10,000, to his joint bank account in order to pay off his credit card and into a bank account for a business entity, the court documents showed.
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Florida GOP author of "Don't Say Gay" law pleads guilty to COVID fraud (Original Post)
Sancho
Mar 2023
OP
Initech
(100,054 posts)1. I'm shocked! SHOCKED! Well... not that shocked!
EYESORE 9001
(25,921 posts)4. I'm shocked too
Shocked that the scum buzzard didnt steal even more from the public coffers. Most of the time, its well over $1M.
Deuxcents
(16,156 posts)2. He faces up to 35 years for this...I'll be curious to see what he does get
Stinky The Clown
(67,776 posts)3. Thugs and gangsters