The former Florida lawmaker who sponsored the controversial law critics call “Don’t Say Gay” will serve six-months in federal prison for defrauding a federal coronavirus loan program for small businesses.

The former Florida lawmaker who sponsored the controversial law critics call “Don’t Say Gay” was sentenced to six months in federal prison Thursday for defrauding a federal coronavirus relief loan program for small businesses.

Former state Rep. Joe Harding, a 36-year-old Republican, resigned in December after being charged with fraudulently obtaining more than $150,000 from the Small Business Administration in pandemic aid loans. He pleaded guilty in March to wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements in connection with COVID-19 relief fraud.

“The theft of any amount of taxpayer funds is inexcusable,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Coody in a news release. “However, the defendant’s deceptive acts of diverting emergency financial assistance from small businesses during the pandemic is simply beyond the pale.”

  • @JakdraculaEnglish
    51•1 year ago

    He looks like a dimwit.

    No mention that he needs to provide restitution.

  • @dhorkEnglish
    27•1 year ago

    So in today’s GOP, this fills the prerequisite “Must Do Crime” box to run for higher office…

  • tygerprints
    13•1 year ago

    Dimwit indeed - after all only a corrupt imbecile would endorse any ban on truthful education of kids about human sexuality. And this guy is also a fraudster on top of that. Tell me who kids should emulate - good people or hateful bigots like this idiot.

  • @CandelestineEnglish
    8•1 year ago

    We need a nonprofit NGO that does tax investigation, if that were possible.

    We have a problem though. The entity responsible for investigating these things is the IRS. The IRS is controlled by our politicians, and they are keeping it under-funded. Thus, the IRS does not have the resources to investigate if it has been defrauded, for as long as they can protect themselves from it.

    So, one solution would be an investigative entity whose funding they cannot touch. One run and funded by donations.

  • theodewere
    4•1 year ago

    they’re all at least selling Snake Oil… all the ones shouting about frog lasers and voting fraud and shit… but most are dedicated criminals like this guy, stealing anything that isn’t nailed down…