A former Florida lawmaker, Joseph Harding, has been sentenced to four months in federal prison for wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements in connection with obtaining $150,000 in COVID-19 relief loans. The loans were repaid prior to litigation. Harding defrauded the Small Business Administration by submitting a loan application for a business that was not active. Instead of using the funds to support struggling businesses and workers, he used the money for personal gain, paying off his credit card and transferring funds to his joint bank account and a third-party business account. The Small Business Administration estimated that fraudsters may have received over $200 billion in federal COVID aid intended for small businesses.
Harding is known for penning the controversial “Don’t Say Gay” law in Florida, which restricts discussions surrounding gender identity and sexuality in elementary school classrooms. He defended the law as empowering parents and denied accusations of discrimination. Critics argue that the law stifles important conversations and is harmful to LGBTQ+ students. Harding resigned from his lawmaker role in December, a day after being indicted on charges for COVID loan fraud. His actions were condemned as an egregious betrayal of the public trust, stealing from funds meant to assist those who elected him.
